Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed grief over the loss of lives in a road accident in Maharashtra’s Nanded district and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased.

The Prime Minister also announced Rs 50,000 for those injured in the accident.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister’s Office said, “Saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Nanded, Maharashtra. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM Narendra Modi.”

At least six people were killed and eight others critically injured after a passenger van collided head-on with a truck on the Nanded-Bhokar road in Maharashtra’s Nanded district on Thursday evening, police said.

The accident took place at around 7 pm near Sitakhandi Ghat, according to an official.

The van was travelling from Nanded towards Bhokar when it collided with the truck. The impact severely damaged the van, leaving it mangled, the police official said.

Following the collision, local residents rushed to the spot and helped rescue people trapped in the wreckage. The injured were subsequently shifted to nearby hospitals for emergency medical treatment.

Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision, including how the passenger van and truck came into contact on the road.