A private bus traveling from Goa to Mumbai has capsized, landing in the Jagbudi river

Mar 19, 2013 09:26 GMT  ·  By

37 people have been killed as a bus fell off a bridge in India today, Tuesday, March 19. The incident took place in the early hours of the morning, reports say.

A private bus was headed from Goa to Mumbai, Ratnagiri district in the western Maharashtra state, the capital city of which is Mumbai.

Witness reports relayed by The Hindu reveal that the bus driver might have been speeding as he was traveling on the Mumbai-Goa Highway. However, officials have not yet confirmed the cause of the crash.

NDTV details that, as it reached a dangerous turn, the bus fell off the Bharna bridge, 190 km (118 miles) away from Mumbai.

Highway department spokesperson BL Shinde reports that it was catapulted 12 m (40 ft) down into the Jagbudi river.

It drove through the bridge guard rail and landed upside down, killing 37 passengers and leaving approximately 15 people injured.

The wounded driver and several passengers have been transported to the civil hospital in Khed for further examination. The extent of their injuries is not clear at this point, but some have suffered head trauma as a result of the collision.

Blood tests are underway to determine whether or not the driver has consumed alcohol before getting behind the wheel.

The Mumbai-Goa Highway has remained closed for four hours this morning until the scene was processed and victims were recovered.

Just four days ago we informed you of another deadly bus crash near De Doorns in South Africa. 22 adults and two children lost their lives and 14 passengers were seriously injured as a driver lost control of a double-decker commuter bus on a rainy day, smashing into a mountainous area.

This story is still developing, and we will keep you updated as more information is released to the press.