At least seven people were killed and several others injured after two buses collided near Uva village in Bardoli taluka of Surat district.
The accident took place on a highway near the village when a bus driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle while attempting to avoid a tanker that had overturned on the road.
According to preliminary information, both buses involved in the collision were Maharashtra-registered passenger vehicles. Officials said the bus travelling behind the overturned tanker swerved in an attempt to avoid a crash, but crossed the central divider and rammed into another bus approaching from the opposite direction.
The impact of the collision was severe, causing one of the buses to overturn. The vehicle, which was powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), subsequently caught fire, triggering panic among passengers and bystanders.
District authorities confirmed that seven people lost their lives in the accident.
Several injured passengers were rescued from the wreckage and shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment. The exact number of injured persons was not immediately available.
Fire brigade personnel and police teams rushed to the scene after receiving information about the accident and launched rescue and firefighting operations.
Authorities said efforts were made to evacuate passengers trapped inside the damaged vehicles and bring the blaze under control.
The identities of the deceased were yet to be officially released.
Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to the accident, while officials are assessing the extent of the damage and the condition of those injured.
Further details are awaited.