Bhopal: At least 34 people died while several others remained missing after a bus fell off a bridge into a canal in Madhya Pradesh’s Sidhi district today.
According to Madhya Pradesh Minister Tulsi Silawat, ‘It is an unfortunate incident. CM has been taking a minute to minute detail of the accident since morning. Two of us are going to Sidhi as per his instructions. I spoke to officers concerned.’
Police said that the bus was enroute to Rewa from Sidhi when the mishap occurred. Reports suggest that the driver lost control over the vehicle and it fell into the Sharda canal under the Rampur police station area.
So far, 34 bodies have been recovered and rescue operations are under way, Umesh Joga, IG Rewa range said.
‘More than 50 passengers were travelling on the bus. The bus was completely submerged in the water and it took more than three hours to pull out the bus,’ sources said.
Police and rescue teams from Rewa, Satna, Singrauli as well local teams are carrying out the relief works.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and other leaders have expressed grief over the incident.