Representative image of a bus falling into a deep gorge.
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: Eight persons died and 15 others were injured when a pick-up truck carrying pilgrims fell into a deep valley at Chandshaili Ghat in Nandurbar district of Maharashtra on Friday night.
The mishap occurred near Makad Tekdi in the Dhadgaon–Taloda area, under the jurisdiction of the Shahada police station, reports reaching here said.
Nandurbar police are investigating the cause of the accident.
According to preliminary reports, the pick-up truck (MH-39-AB-2802) was carrying a group of pilgrims returning from a temple visit when the driver lost control while negotiating a sharp turn on the steep ghat section.
The vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into the valley, overturning multiple times before coming to a halt.
The injured were immediately admitted to Taloda Rural Hospital, Nandurbar District Hospital, and some to private hospitals, where they are being treated.
A detailed report of the incident has been submitted to the Nandurbar district administration by Tehsildar Dipak Dhiware.
“The exact cause of the accident is yet to be determined, and police investigations are ongoing,” officials said.
The victims were returning from the Astamba Yatra — a deeply rooted tribal pilgrimage held annually in Akrani Tehsil during Diwali. The fair, one of the most significant for tribal communities in South Gujarat and North Maharashtra, draws people for a fortnight.