Sidhi, Feb 18 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has ordered suspension of four officials in connection with the tragic bus accident in Sidhi district that has claimed 51 lives so far.
On Wednesday night, Mr Chouhan visited the accident spot in Sidhi, met the families of the victims and reviewed the rescue operations.
The Chief Minister also announced rewards of Rs five lakh each for three persons, including a young woman, who saved the lives of passengers in the bus.
Mr Chouhan also convened a meeting last night, to suspend the Regional Transport Officer (RTO) of Sidhi district and three officials of MP Road Development Corporation (MPRDC).
Divisional Manager of MPRDC MK Jain, AGM Amit Nagesh and Manager BP Tiwari have been suspended. The Rewa RTO, who had the charge of Sidhi, was also suspended by the Chief Minister.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, he said, 'It is a very tragic incident. I wanted to reach the spot and meet the bereaved families on Tuesday, but it could have affected the rescue operation.'
The Chief Minister said that those who have gone, cannot be brought back, but all possible help will be extended to their families. Financial assistance of Rs seven lakh each has been provided to the next of the kin of the deceased, he added.
He said though the exact cause of the accident will be known after investigation, but based on the feedback received from the general public, the tragedy occurred as the bus driver changed the route to avoid traffic jam and due to bad condition of Chuhia Valley road.
The Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation (MPRDC) will improve the condition of Chuhiya valley, assured Mr Chouhan.
He said a long-term action plan will be made to get away with the dangerous diversion on this road, adding that to reduce traffic congestion on this road, construction of Rewa Gaddi Rampurnakin road and Jigna Bharatpur road will be completed soon.
The Chief Minister appreciated the Revenue Administration, Police Administration, the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force, for their active participation in the relief and rescue work.
The Satna-bound bus fell into Bansagar canal, which is part of the Bansagar dam project on Tuesday morning near Patna village, 80 km from the Sidhi district headquarters, leading to death of 51 people.
UNI SV RJ 1948