In a tragic incident, three young men were mowed down by a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus early Sunday morning while jogging along the roadside as part of their training for police recruitment.

The accident occurred around 6 a.m. near Ghodka Rajuri village in Beed taluka, close to the Swaraj Hotel on the Beed-Parbhani highway. The deceased have been identified as Subhash Babasaheb More (18), Virat Babruvan Ghodke (16), and Onkar Sugriv Ghodke (18), all residents of Ghodka Rajuri village.

According to an MSRTC official, the bus was traveling from Beed to Parbhani when it hit the trio. The driver reportedly claimed that dense morning fog had significantly reduced visibility, leading to the fatal collision. While the three young men died on the spot, two other members of their group managed to escape unhurt.

"Their bodies were transported to the Beed District Hospital for post-mortem and other formalities. The bus driver, Pundlik Devidas Musale, has been apprehended, and a case has been registered against him," said the official.

The accident triggered outrage among local villagers, who vandalized the state transport bus in protest and demanded jobs for the families of the deceased from MSRTC.

Expressing his condolences, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced a financial assistance package of Rs 10 lakh each for the families of the victims. "This is an extremely painful incident. We share the grief of the families who have lost their loved ones. While we cannot bring back those young men, this financial aid is a gesture of our support during this difficult time," the minister stated.

The decision was made following discussions involving Minister Sarnaik, MSRTC Vice Chairman and Managing Director Dr. Madhav Kusekar, Beed MLA Sandeep Kshirsagar, and former Shiv Sena District Chief Kundalik Khande. The minister also assured that the government would provide all possible support to the grieving families.