Surat Bus Crash Kills 7, Injures 40 After Collision Sparks Fire on Highway

At least seven people died and 40 others were rushed to hospital after two buses collided on National Highway 48 near Surat in Gujarat on Thursday, with one vehicle catching fire on impact. Emergency services arrived at the scene within 20 minutes, but survivors described a rapid spread of flames that left several passengers trapped. The accident occurred around 7:15 a.m. during the early morning commute, a period when highways in the region typically see heavy traffic. Gujarat's Road Transport Authority confirmed the collision involved a state-run bus and a private coach travelling in opposite directions.

Collision Scene Described as Hellish

Eyewitnesses at the site told reporters the impact was so forceful that one bus overturned onto its side before erupting in flames. Locals from nearby villages rushed to the highway with water and basic rescue tools before fire brigades could cut through the morning traffic. A resident of the Dabhoda area, identified as Rajesh Patel, said he saw at least five people crawling out of windows as black smoke billowed across the road. Gujarat's fire department dispatched three units from Surat city and one from Navsari to contain the blaze, which took nearly 40 minutes to bring under control.

Injured Taken to Multiple Hospitals Across Surat