Kolhapur, Jan 27 (UNI) Thirteen people, including six women, drowned when a mini bus plunged into the Panchanganga river in the city early Saturday.
According to Karveer police, a mini bus carrying a total sixteen members of Bharat Kesari and Varkhade family were returning from Ganpatipule in Ratnagiri after paying obeisance to Lord Ganesh.
The driver, who was under the influence of alcohol, failed to stop at the railing of Shivaji bridge and the bus plunged into the river.
A total of thirteen people, including six women, got stuck in the mangled bus and drowned.
The remaining three were injured and rushed to Chhatrapati Pramila Raje hospital here for treatment.
On receiving the information, police, the Army and the locals, rushed to the spot and fished out all the bodies.
State revenue minister Chandrakant Patil, IGP Vishwas Nangare-Patil, District superintendent of police Sanjay Mohite rushed to the spot after the mishap and supervised the rescue operation.
Investigations are underway.
Karveer police identified deceased as Santosh Babanrao Varkhade(45), Gauri Santosh Varkhade(16), Dnyeshwari Santosh Varkhade(14), all from Pirgund of Mukshi tehsil in Pune district, Sachin Bharat
Kedari(34), Nikesh Sachin Kedari(28), Sanscruti Sachin Kedari(8), Sanidhha Sachin Kedari(nine months old), Sahil Deelip Kedari(14)Bhavna Deelip Kedari(35), Shravani Deelip Kedari(11),Chhaya Dinesh Nangare(41), Pratik Dinesh Nangare(14) and unknown mini bus driver(28), all resident at Balewadi if Haveli
tehsil in Pune district.
The injured are-- Manisha Santosh Varkhade(38), Manda Bharat Kedari(50) and Prajakta Dinesh Nangare(18).
The deceased bus driver-- Mahesh Laxman Kucherkar (45)-- hailed from Hinjewadi in Pune.
UNI SSS SB 1314