24 dead, including 3 children, after bus falls from bridge in MP’s Khargone
Bhopal: At least 24 people, including three children and 10 women, were killed and around 40 others injured after a passenger bus fell off a bridge into a rocky dry bed of a river in Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday.
The critically injured were shifted to Indore, the divisional headquarters of the district and their condition is stated to be serious. The remaining injured are undergoing treatment at the district hospital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the road accident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased.
The accident took place at around 8:30 am while the vehicle that was heading towards Indore from Khargone carrying 67 passengers skidded off after breaking through the railing of a bridge built on the Barod River near Dongargaon village of the district. The running bus fell into around 50 feet depth of the river, which was completely dry.
Collector of Khargone Shivraj Singh told Millennium Post that as soon as the information was received about the accident, he rushed to the spot along with the Superintendent of Police and began the rescue operation. However, locals had already arrived to help.
He also said that an inquiry has been ordered into the incident to know about the reasons for the mishap, and directed strict action against those responsible.
Taking to Twitter, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed grief over the untimely demise of the passengers in the Khargone bus accident and prayed for a speedy recovery for the injured.
He also announced Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia for each next of kin of the deceased, Rs 50,000 each for medical assistance to those who are critically injured and Rs 25,000 each for the injured.
According to preliminary information, the bus driver had fallen asleep and lost control of the vehicle that turned turtle after falling down. Villagers pushed it back on its wheel and rescued the injured passengers before police arrived at the spot.
The passengers who died in the accident have been identified as Vivek (23), Som (11), Durgesh (20), Muskan (140, Sanjay (30), Devki, Dhanna Lal Gurjar, Santosh (45), Savita Bai, Ramkunwar (60), Priyanshu (1), Aanchal (18), Laxmibai (32), Mangati Bai (75), Vijay, Sukhdev, Malu Bai, Kanha, Kallu Bai, Pinky, Sumit, Arjun and two others.
