6 killed in collision between bus, auto-rickshaw in Gujarat’s Patan

Six people travelling in an auto-rickshaw were killed as their vehicle collided with a state transport bus in Gujarat's Patan district on Thursday, police said.

An official said the accident occurred near Sami village on the Sami-Radhanpur highway around 11.30 am.

The state transport bus was going towards Kutch from Himmatnagar, while the three-wheeler was coming from the opposite direction, said Patan District Superintendent of Police VK Nayi.

“All six people travelling in the auto-rickshaw, including the driver, died on the spot. The impact was so intense that the mangled remains of the auto got stuck underneath the bus,” said Nayi.

Prime facie, it appears that the bus driver lost control over the vehicle while trying to overtake another vehicle, resulting in the collision, said the official.

The local police have started an investigation, Nayi added.

Radhanpur MLA and BJP leader Lavingji Thakor, who rushed to the spot after learning about the accident, said all six occupants of the auto-rickshaw died at the scene.