Bhind: A speeding bus collided with a van on a national highway in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhind district early Saturday, leaving four people dead and seven others injured, local police said.

The crash occurred around 2:30 a.m. on National Highway 719 near Chhimka village, located within the Gohad Chauraha police station jurisdiction. According to Manish Dhakad, the station house officer (SHO), the site of the collision is approximately 45 kilometres from the district headquarters.

The bus, which was returning to Gwalior after dropping off a wedding party and was travelling without passengers, struck the van with significant force. The impact killed four occupants of the van instantly.

Rescue and Medical Efforts

Witnesses at the scene described the van as "completely mangled," with survivors trapped in the wreckage until locals and emergency responders could extricate them.

The seven survivors were initially rushed to a local hospital. However, two victims remain in critical condition and have been transferred to a facility in Gwalior for specialised care.

The Investigation

Authorities noted that the van’s occupants were en route from Gwalior to Bhind at the time of the incident. Initial findings by the police suggest that excessive speed was the primary factor in the tragedy.

"Preliminary investigation suggests that speeding was the main cause of the accident," Dhakad said.

The collision caused temporary traffic disruptions on the highway as police and rescue teams worked to clear the debris. Movement was restored later Saturday morning after the damaged vehicles were towed from the roadway.

With inputs from PTI