Sidhi, Feb 16 (UNI) At least 40 people were killed and seven others rescued after an overloaded bus fell into a canal in this district of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday morning.
According to Rewa Divisional Commissioner Rajesh Jain, the dead comprised of 18 women, 21 men and one child.
Soon after the tragedy, seven people had managed to swim to safety, he said, adding that the search and rescue operation is still on in the surrounding areas apprehending that some passengers may have been swept away by the flow of water in the canal.
A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident, Mr Jain said.
The bus had a capacity of 32 passengers but was carrying about 60 passengers at the time of the incident, sources said. The bus driver is said to have survived.
On getting the information, police and administration staff rushed to the accident spot, which is about 80 kilometers away from Sidhi district headquarters, Mr Jain said.
Meanwhile, police sources said that this canal attached to the Bansagar dam reservoir was filled with more than 20 feet of water. After the accident, the work of releasing water from the dam reservoir, located about 40 km away, was stopped.
Due to this, the water level of the canal reduced expediting the relief and rescue work.
Sources said that the bus had left from Sidhi to Satna early this morning.
As there was a traffic jam in the Chuhiya Valley at around 0800 hrs in the morning, the bus took another route to reach Satna.
This route was adjacent to the canal and the suddenly the driver lost control over the wheels and it nose-dived into the canal.
The bus was reportedly carrying passengers from Sidhi and nearby districts. Many of them were going to appear in railway and nursing examination conducted in Satna district along with their parents.
Identification of the dead is on, the sources said.
Expressing shock and concern over the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier tweeted, 'Bus accident in MP's Sidhi is horrific. Condolences to the bereaved families. The local administration is actively involved in rescue and relief work.'
Later, the Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the victims.
'PM@narendramodi has approved an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the bus accident in Sidhi, Madhya Pradesh. Rs. 50,000 would be given to those seriously injured,' the PMO said in a tweet.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in a video message. "What has happened is extremely tragic. Families of those who have died will be given a compensation of ₹ 5 lakh. The entire state is standing with those affected."
In view of the accident, the state government cancelled a key event which was to be virtually attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
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