CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: Three police aspirants, two aged 19 and one 18, were fatally run over by a Maharashtra state transport bus during a training run along Beed-Parli highway in Beed district on Sunday morning.
Angry locals pelted stones at the bus and tried to set it on fire. The bus driver claimed he was unable to spot the five-member group of runners due to dense fog, police said.
Om Sugriv Ghodke (19) and Virat Babruwan Ghodke (18) died on the spot, while Subodh Babasaheb More (19) succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.
“The accident occurred about 1,500m from their village. We have arrested the bus driver,” said Pimpalner inspector Madhusudan Ghuge.
Aditya Kadpe, one of the survivors, said, “We saw the bus approaching and expected it to pass by, but it suddenly veered towards us and hit three of my friends. I had just finished my workout and was sitting by the roadside.”
Later on Sunday, state transport minister Pratap Sarnaik announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased.