15 killed after minibus falls into pond in Coochbehar

While nine bodies were taken to the morgue at MJN Hospital,Coochbehar,two others were taken to Dinhata Sub-divisional Hospital for postmortem,police said.

Locals initially did not allow the other four bodies to be taken for postmortem,demanding senior officials visit the site and supervise rescue work but later relented.

Fire brigade and police personnel joined them in rescue work after a crane was brought to the spot to haul up the partly submerged vehicle.

The dead included a school girl studying in class IX,some locals said.