A speeding state transport bus veered out of control near the Bhavnagar bus terminal on Wednesday morning, mounting the footpath and killing a woman and her seven-year-old daughter.
The bus, operating on the Sihor-Tana-Varal route, was leaving the central depot when the driver reportedly lost control. According to witnesses, the bus failed to stop and crashed into people sitting along the pedestrian pathway before hitting the boundary wall of the nearby Bharucha Club.
Mother and Daughter Killed
The deceased have been identified as 28-year-old Lalitaben Parmar and her seven-year-old daughter, Sonia Parmar, residents of Ramdhari Sanosara village. Both suffered severe head injuries and died at the spot before emergency medical teams could arrive.
Another pedestrian, Madhu Vaghela of Thoda-Umarala, sustained serious multiple injuries. She was rushed to a district government hospital by a 108 ambulance and is reportedly in critical condition.
Police Probe Underway
Police reached the spot soon after the accident, cordoned off the area and cleared the road. The damaged bus was later towed away to restore traffic movement around the station.
A case has been registered and an investigation is underway to determine whether the accident was caused by a mechanical brake failure or driver negligence. State Transport Corporation officials are also expected to examine the vehicle’s maintenance records.