Raisen (MP): At least 20 persons were killed
and 15 others are missing after a private bus fell into the
swollen Barna river off a bridge in Raisen district on Monday.
The bus belonging to Maa Gayatri Travels, carrying 60
passengers, fell off the bridge about 100 km away from here
when one of its tyres burst and the driver lost control.
So far, 20 bodies have been recovered from the river
while 15 others are feared to have been swept away, police
said.
Earlier, the police had put the figure of dead at 26, but
later they revised it downward.
The bus was on its way to Jabalpur from Bhopal. It was
pulled out of the river in two pieces with the help of a
crane, police added.
Twenty-one persons were admitted to the Bareily hospital
while six were later sent to Bhopal as their condition was
serious.
The driver is missing, while the conductor, Laxmi Prasad,
sustained injuries as he jumped out of the bus, and is
undergoing treatment at the hospital.
The Bhopal-based owner of the bus is absconding, police
said.
Army divers from Bhopal were deployed to carry out the
search in the river.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has
announced ex-gratia of Rs 50,000 each for the families of the
deceased, Rs 10,000 for the seriously injured and Rs 5,000
for those who have suffered minor injuries.
Nine of the deceased have been identified so far: Raja
(16), Bulabai (50), Mahima (08), Sayed Afsar Ali (35), Karodi
(30), Krishna Kumar (45), Rahul (22), Rajesh (25) and Radhelal
(55).
PTI
