Eight killed near Bhokar in highway crash, minister orders aid for victims

Eight people were killed after a truck collided head-on with a pickup vehicle at Sitakhandi Ghat on the Bhokar-Barad national highway in Bhokar taluka, Nanded district, on Thursday evening. Seven others were seriously injured. The injured are being treated at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Nanded.

On learning of the accident, Nanded district guardian minister Atul Save called district collector Rahul Kardile to seek details. Save directed the collector to ensure the families of those killed receive necessary government assistance immediately, and asked that the injured get timely treatment and all required medical facilities.

Expressing grief over the deaths, Save said, "I am deeply saddened by the loss of lives in this tragic incident. In this difficult time, my condolences are with the grieving families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured."

The families of those who died will be given assistance of 2 lakh rupees each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF). The guardian minister also directed the collector to pursue assistance of 50,000 rupees each for the injured.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also been informed of the accident. He too expressed grief over the incident and directed that the affected families be given the necessary government assistance.

Separately, another major accident occurred on the Gondia-Balaghat national highway in the Nagra area, where a truck collided head-on with a Bolero vehicle. Six passengers travelling in the Bolero died on the spot, while seven others were seriously injured. The injured were rushed to hospital for treatment. According to initial information, most of those killed and injured were residents of Balaghat district in Madhya Pradesh.