21 pilgrims die, 35 hurt in India bus crash

'Extremely pained' by the loss of lives, tweets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: At least 21 people returning from offering prayers at a temple in India's western state of Gujarat died after their bus overturned on Monday, police said, with heavy rains hindering rescuers.

Police said the bus, carrying 70 passengers returning from the temple town of Ambaji to their villages in Anand district, flipped when the driver tried to navigate a sharp curve on the road at high speed in wet conditions caused by the late monsoon season.

"There were about 70 passengers on board the bus of which 21 have died," local police superintendent Ajit Rajian said.

"Thirty-five others injured have been sent to Palanpur civil hospital. The rescue operations were hampered because of heavy rain coupled with gushing wind."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose home state is Gujarat, tweeted that he was "extremely pained" by the loss of lives.

Devastating news from Banaskantha. I am extremely pained by the loss of lives due to an accident. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families.

The local administration is providing all possible help to the injured. May they recover soon.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 30, 2019