Mumbai, June 8 (UNI) Altogether 22 passengers suffered burn injuries after a fire broke out when a LPG tanker and a minibus collided in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district on Sunday morning, police said.



The injured were sent to Ratnagiri District Hospital for urgent treatment. Several injured passengers are reported to be critical.



Police reports indicate that the LPG tanker suddenly collided head-on with the minibus, causing the latter to overturn into a nearby ditch.

A gas leak from the tanker ignited a fire that spread rapidly, engulfing both vehicles and surrounding areas.



The minibus was carrying teachers attending a mandatory training program organised by the Maharashtra State Council of Educational Research and Training (MSCERT).



The blaze also caused extensive damage to nearby homes, gardens, vehicles—including cars, two-wheelers and rickshaws —and even affected some animals in the vicinity.



Firefighters and police managed to control the fire, though cooling operations continued into the day. The incident has caused significant distress in the local community.



The accident has intensified criticism from teachers’ unions, which had recently voiced concerns over strict hourly attendance requirements during the training sessions. UNI AAA AKT SSP