On way home for Diwali, 15 die in Madhya Pradesh mishap

All the passengers were reportedly from UP. (ANI)

According to Rewa Superitendent of Police, Navneet Bhasin, the accident occured near Suhagi ghati on a gradient. “Prima facie it appears the trailer-truck suddenly applied brakes after it hit another vehicle ahead of it, due to which the bus crashed into the truck.”

Basin added that the 15 who were killed were seated in front part of the bus. “Soon after we reached the accident site, we assumed that the deaths would be around 4-5, as usually only those many people are seated in the cabin. However, during rescue operation when 3-4 cranes were used to seperate the bus from the trailer-truck, we removed 15 people. Most of them died had died on the spot and one person who had sustained serious injuries to his legs later died in the hospital,” added Basin.

The 40 injured were immediately rushed to a hospital.

Rewa Collector, Manoj Kumar Pushp said, “The rescue work was challenging as the windows and doors of the bus had to be cut open with gas cutters to remove those trapped inside. The operation went on until 4 am. At least 10 ambulances were used to ferry the injured to the hospitals. While 12 were sent to UP in a special bus that left in the morning, the remaining 28 are still under treatment at Sanjay Gandhi Medical College in Rewa and their condition is stated to be stable.”

Madhya Pradesh transport minister, Govind Singh Rajput has ordered in inquiry into the accident, while Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan spoke to his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath and briefed him about the accident, an official said.

Chouhan also announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh for the kin of the deceased and free treatment and Rs 10,000 each for the injured.

“We are co-ordinating with the UP government and preparing to send the bodies back to their homes,” Chouhan said.

CM Adityanath also expressed grief over the accident and announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed their grief.

The Prime Minister’s Office in a tweet said, “The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased in the tragic bus accident in Madhya Pradesh. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000.”

With ENS, Lucknow