Madhya Pradesh: 39 dead as bus falls into canal in Sidhi, search operation underway

Madhya Pradesh: At least 39 of 54 passengers lost their lives after a bus carrying them fell into a canal in Sidhi. A search operation is underway for the rest of the passengers feared drowned in the canal. Seven passengers have been rescued so far. The State Disaster Response Force and divers are currently on the spot. As per reports, water from Bansagar canal is being released into Sihawal Canal to lower its water level and facilitate the rescue operation. Sidhi District Collector Ravindra Kumar Choudhary informed that death toll in the bus accident has risen to 39.

MP: A bus, carrying around 54 passengers, fell into a canal in Sidhi after the driver lost control over it. 7 people rescued, search underway for rest of the passengers. A team is present at spot, operation is underway. Bus was going from Sidhi to Satna when the incident occurred pic.twitter.com/clmUfYdoQd

— ANI (@ANI) February 16, 2021

Taking cognisance of the incident, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan spoke to the district collector and asked him to quicken the rescue operation. He also dispatched minister Tulsi Silawat and Ram Lekhawan Patel to the spot.

Speaking to ANI, Silwat said: “It’s an unfortunate incident. CM has been taking a minute by minute detail of the accident since morning. Two of us are going to Sidhi as per his instructions. I spoke to concerned officers, as per their information around 30 bodies have been recovered.”

According to eyewitnesses, the bus sank in the canal and was not visible now. It was feared that the bus was swept away in the water now. At least seven persons swam to the banks of the canal while others were missing, they told PTI.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs each from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives in the accident. He has also approved Rs 50,000 to those seriously injured.