A bus carrying 27 passengers from Bhopal to Khatu Shyam overturned and plunged into a ditch on the Delhi‑Mumbai expressway in Kota, Rajasthan, early Monday morning, killing 8 and injuring 17. The driver reportedly dozed off, causing the vehicle to break through the guardrail and fall into the embankment.
Five of the dead were women, including 24‑year‑old Aruna, mother of two, and 28‑year‑old Vaishnavi, a school teacher. The victims were identified as Aruna, Vaishnavi, Trisha, Krishna, Anita, Om, Suryavanshi, and Raju.
District Collector Peeyush Samariya and IG Harendra Mahawar rushed to MBS hospital, where the injured are being treated. Four ambulances were dispatched within minutes, transporting patients to MBS and New Medical College for urgent care.
Police have opened a formal investigation and the driver is expected to face criminal charges for negligent driving. Expressway authorities plan a comprehensive safety audit of the section and will announce whether temporary road closures are needed.
Local residents gathered near the site, demanding stricter enforcement of rest‑period regulations for long‑haul drivers, while the bus operator expressed willingness to cooperate with the inquiry.