Bus Helper Killed as Passenger Bus Hits Tree Near Ashta on Bhopal-Indore Highway

A bus traveling from Ahmedabad to Bhopal swerved to avoid a stray cow near Ashta, leading to a fatal collision with a roadside tree.

A tragic road accident claimed the life of a bus helper on Tuesday morning after a passenger bus veered off the road and rammed into a tree on the Bhopal-Indore Highway. The incident occurred around 8:00 AM near the Kachnariya Junction, falling under the jurisdiction of the Parvati Police Station.

The bus, operated by Verma Travels, was en route from Ahmedabad to Bhopal with approximately 30 passengers on board. While the passengers escaped with their lives, the impact of the collision was so severe that the front cabin of the vehicle was completely crushed, trapping the helper inside.

Fatal collision near Kachnariya

According to Dharmendra Singh Malviya from the Parvati Police Station, the bus was about 10 kilometers away from Ashta when the driver lost control. Local residents and passersby rushed to the spot as the sound of the crash echoed through the area. Initial reports suggest the vehicle was traveling at a steady speed before it suddenly darted toward the shoulder of the highway, hitting a large tree head-on.

Rescue team uses cutters

The deceased has been identified as 35-year-old Sunil Mukati, a resident of Polai Kala in Shajapur district. Rescuers faced a grim task upon arrival. Krishnapal Verma, an ambulance driver with the 108 service, stated that the victim’s body was pinned so tightly within the mangled remains of the cabin that gas cutters had to be used to retrieve him. Sunil died on the spot due to the intensity of the impact.

Driver recounts narrow escape

The bus driver, Ramchandra Patel, also a resident of Polai Kala, survived the crash and spoke of the harrowing moments leading up to the accident. "A cow suddenly appeared on the road. Everything happened in a split second. I slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting the animal, but the tire burst, and the steering just locked up," Patel said. He described the moment of impact as "staring at death," adding that he considers his survival a second lease on life.

Passengers safe after scare

While the helper lost his life, authorities confirmed that all 30 passengers on board remained safe, though many were left shaken by the sudden jolt. ASI Ajay Kant Dixit of the Ashta Police confirmed that the primary cause appears to be the sudden appearance of cattle on the highway combined with the subsequent tire failure. The body of the deceased was shifted to the Ashta Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Rising concerns over highway safety

The Bhopal-Indore stretch is one of the busiest in the state, and the presence of stray cattle has been a recurring concern for long-distance drivers. Police have registered a case and are investigating the technical state of the vehicle at the time of the crash. Traffic was briefly disrupted on the lane as a crane was called in to move the damaged bus from the roadside.