30 killed in bus crash blaze

A bus collided with a truck on a road in western India today and burst into flames, killing at least 30 people.

The head-on collision took place near the town of Baruch in the state of Gujarat, said police superintendent GS Malik.

Twenty two people were killed at the scene, and eight later died of burns at a hospital, the officer said. Six people remained in critical condition.

Immediately after the collision, the bus was engulfed in flames, and “most died of burn injuries,” Malik said.

“The fuel tank of the Volvo coach burst on impact, which ignited a deadly fire.”

Authorities would conduct DNA tests to determine the identities of the dead, all of whom were overnight travellers on their way to Ahmadabad, the state’s capital, from the western city of Bombay, he said, adding that 41 passengers were on the bus.

The truck driver, who miraculously escaped unhurt in the accident, was arrested, Malik said.

Baruch is about 134 miles north of Ahmadabad.