Madhya Pradesh: 13 dead as bus falls in water pit near Ratlam; PM Narendra Modi `extremely distressed`

Ratlam: A private bus fell into a large water pit near Namli town here on Friday, killing at least 13 people and leaving as many others injured.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of innocent lives in the accident.

"Extremely distressed by the loss of lives caused by the bus accident in Ratlam, MP. My thoughts are with the bereaved families," he tweeted.

"I wish those injured in the bus accident in Ratlam a quick recovery," Modi added in another tweet.

Ratlam Superintendent of Police Abhilash Sharma said that 16 passengers have been safely taken out of the bus, and relief and rescue operations are on. 

Many passengers are still said to be trapped inside the ill-fated bus lying submerged in water.

"The injured are undergoing treatment at a Ratlam hospital," he said.

Although the cause of the accident is yet to be established, Sharma said the driver apparently lost control over the bus due to speeding near the open-cast mine pit, which caused the accident.

The survivors, however, maintain that the accident took place as one of the tyres of the bus burst. 

The bus was en route to Jaora from Ratlam when the incident took place on the four-lane road at 12 Patthar Khadan, about two kms away from Namli town.

Unconfirmed reports said there were 40-45 passengers in the bus.

Senior officials, including Collector, SP, and others, reached the spot to supervise the rescue operation.

(With Agency inputs)