Sat Aug 23 01:02:06 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text, formatted for The Hindu:
**Summary:**
A tour bus carrying 54 people, including Indian nationals, crashed on the New York State Thruway on August 22, 2025, killing five and injuring dozens more. The bus, returning from Niagara Falls to New York City, flipped over after the driver reportedly became distracted and overcorrected. The deceased have been identified as residents of Bihar, New Jersey, and China. Investigations are ongoing, but mechanical failure and driver impairment have been ruled out. Many passengers were reportedly not wearing seatbelts.
**News Article:**
**Tragedy Strikes New York: Tour Bus Crash Kills Five, Injures Dozens; Indian Nationals Among Passengers**
**New York, August 24, 2025:** A tour bus accident on the New York State Thruway near Pembroke has claimed the lives of five individuals and left dozens injured. The bus, carrying 54 passengers including Indian nationals, crashed on August 22nd while returning to New York City from Niagara Falls.
According to New York State Police Major Andre Ray, the driver apparently became distracted, lost control, and overcorrected, causing the bus to flip over on its side. The incident occurred on the eastbound side of Interstate 90, approximately 40 kilometers east of Buffalo.
The deceased have been identified as Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, from Bihar, India; Pinki Changrani, 60, of East Brunswick, New Jersey; Xie Hongzhuo, 22, of Beijing, China; Zhang Xiaolan, 55, of Jersey City, New Jersey; and Jian Mingli, 56, of Jersey City, New Jersey.
“An absolute tragedy took place,” stated Maj. Ray during a press conference, extending condolences to the victims and their families.
Authorities reported that many passengers were ejected from the bus, while others were trapped inside. Rescue personnel transported the injured to local hospitals for treatment, where they are receiving care for injuries ranging from head trauma to broken limbs. While some injuries were serious, doctors at Erie County Medical Centre indicated that patients needing surgery are expected to recover.
State police confirmed that the majority of passengers were of Indian, Chinese, and Filipino ethnicity. Translators were brought in to assist with the emergency response.
Preliminary investigations have ruled out mechanical failure and driver impairment as contributing factors to the crash. The driver is cooperating with the authorities, and no charges have been filed as of Friday evening. The bus is owned by M&Y Tour Inc. of Staten Island, New York.
Trooper James O’Callaghan noted that many passengers appeared not to be wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. A New York state law requires seatbelts in charter buses built after November 28, 2016, but the age of the bus involved in the accident is currently unknown.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her condolences via social media and confirmed that her office is working closely with law enforcement and local officials to address the situation.
The New York State Thruway Authority temporarily closed a significant section of the roadway, advising drivers to avoid the area. An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.
First Piper 