45 PEOPLE KILLED IN MP ACCIDENT

BHOPAL: At least 45 people were killed and several others were reported missing after a bus fell into a canal in Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday morning, said an official.

Over 60 passengers were on board when the bus fell into the canal.

Rescue operations are underway, and police and a team of State Disaster Response Force are conducting the rescue operation, said Sidhi collector Ravindra Chaudhary.

Of the 45 dead, 37 were removed from the bus while two bodies were found floating in the canal. One person succumbed to injuries while getting treatment at the hospital, said Rewa inspector general Umesh Joga.

The bus was heading to Satna from Sidhi when the accident occurred at 8.30am, around 80km from the Sidhi district headquarters. All the passengers are believed to be local villagers.

“Seven persons managed to swim to the banks of the canal after the incident. 44 passengers have been identified so far,” said Rewa divisional commissioner Rajesh Jain.

Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has convened a meeting over the accident and a team of two ministers will visit the accident site.

Prime minister’s office added in a tweet, “PM Narendra Modi has approved an ex-gratia of ₹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.

₹50,000 would be given to those seriously injured.”

Expressing grief, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu too tweeted, “Deeply anguished by the loss of lives in a bus accident in Sidhi district, Madhya Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured as rescue operations are underway.”