The accident occured when the pilgrims were returning home to Hingoli and other places when their buses rammed into an Akola-bound bus.
The six victims died on the spot and of the 21 injured, two were said to be in serious condition.
The other 32 passengers have been shifted to a gurdwara in Malkapur for temporary lodging and boarding till arrangements are made to enable them go home.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed grief over the tragedy and announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakhs to the kin of each deceased persons and treatment at government expenses to all the injured victims at the Buldhana Civil Hospital.
A police official said that the two buses collided at around 2.30 a.m. on the NH 6 on a railway over-bridge near Malkapur, which is on the Akola-Jalgaon highway.
One of the buses had around 50 pilgrims returning to Hingoli after an 18-day pilgrimage to Amarnath, and the other bus of Royal Travels bound from Nagpur to Nashik with inter-district passengers.
As per initial investigations, the Nashik-bound bus attempted to overtake a truck ahead when the Hingoli-bound bus came in front and led to the accident.
–Ajit Weekly News
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News Credits – I A N S
