35 Killed After Bus Plunges Into Canal

Bhopal: At least 35 people, including many women, were killed after a bus plunged into a roadside canal in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday.

According to reports, the bus carrying around 54 passengers fell off a bridge into Bansagar canal near Patna village in Sidhi district around 8.30 am after the driver lost control.

Several passengers remained missing after the accident. “At least 20 other passengers are feared missing, and a search and rescue operation is underway,” an official told news agency PTI.

The official said at least seven persons swam to safety after the bus fell into the canal.

According to eyewitnesses, the bus sunk in the canal and was not visible. It is feared that the bus was swept away by the water current.

State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) and divers have reached the accident spot. Till reports last came in, water from the ill-fated canal was being released into another canal to lower its water level for the rescue operation.

Meanwhile, MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has taken cognisance of the matter and has spoken to the district collector, asking him to quicken rescue and relief operations.

Minister Tulsi Silawat said, “It’s an unfortunate incident. The CM has been taking minute-to-minute details of the accident since morning. Two of us are going to Sidhi as per his instructions. I spoke to the officers concerned. As per their information around 30 bodies have been recovered.”