Sleeper Bus Collides with Truck on Ratlam-Indore Highway, Five Injured
A private sleeper bus operated by Gajraj Travels collided with a truck on the Ratlam-Indore four-lane highway near Rattagiri Phanta early Wednesday morning, resulting in injuries to five passengers from Barmer district in Rajasthan. The accident occurred around 7 am, approximately 27 kilometers from Ratlam, as the bus was en route from Jodhpur to Indore.
Details of the Collision and Immediate Aftermath
According to Ratlam Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar, the truck driver applied sudden brakes after the vehicle reportedly developed a steering failure. The bus driver, unable to control the speeding vehicle, crashed into the truck from behind. At the time of the incident, it was drizzling, and most passengers were asleep, which may have exacerbated the impact.
The front portion of the bus sustained severe damage, with windowpanes shattered in the collision. Police personnel from the Satrunda check post quickly responded to the scene. They shifted the injured individuals—identified as Sheru, Ambaram, Raju, Vishal, and Krishna, all residents of Barmer district in Rajasthan—to Ratlam Medical College with the assistance of an ambulance.
Traffic Restoration and Road Condition Concerns
To restore normal traffic movement on the busy highway, a crane was later deployed to remove the damaged bus from the road. Preliminary investigations suggest that road conditions may have contributed to the accident. Locals reported that the stretch had been recently repaired, with fine gravel spread over a freshly laid asphalt surface, causing vehicles to skid frequently.
This incident highlights ongoing safety concerns on highways, particularly during adverse weather conditions and on newly maintained roads. Authorities are likely to review the maintenance practices and safety protocols to prevent similar accidents in the future.
