Tragedy struck the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Dausa as a private bus veered off the road into a gorge after colliding with a trailer, claiming at least seven lives and injuring over 15.

DAUSA: At least seven passengers were killed and over 15 others injured after a private bus travelling from Haridwar to Indore collided with a trailer and plunged into a roadside gorge on the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway in Rajasthan’s Dausa district early Wednesday.The accident occurred between 2am and 3am near the rest area under Kolwa police station limits, officials said.Police said the bus lost control after hitting the trailer and fell into a gorge. A fire broke out in the rear portion of the bus shortly after the crash, causing panic among passengers, news agency ANI reported.Most passengers were asleep at the time of the accident. Eyewitnesses said the impact was so severe that passengers sleeping on the upper berths were thrown down, leaving several seriously injured. Women and children were also among the injured.After receiving information, police, ambulance services and rescue teams rushed to the spot. With the help of local residents, the injured were evacuated from the bus and taken to the Dausa district hospital.Some passengers managed to escape on their own before the fire spread, officials said.While the injured are undergoing treatment at the district hospital, several critically injured passengers have been referred to higher medical centres for advanced care, ANI reported.Additional Superintendent of Police Yogendra Faujdar, Deputy Superintendent of Police Dharmendra Kumar, Kotwali SHO Bhagwan Sahay Sharma, Sub-Divisional Officer Sanju Meena and Tehsildar Gajanan Meena visited the hospital to review treatment arrangements and directed doctors to ensure proper medical care.Police have seized the bus and the trailer and launched an investigation.Preliminary findings suggest the bus went out of control after colliding with the trailer. Traffic on the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway was affected for some time following the accident.(With agency inputs)