Madhya Pradesh: Bus falls into canal; 37 people killed

A bus fell off a bridge into a canal near Patna village in Madhya Pradesh's Sidhi district on Tuesday morning where at least 37 people, including 16 women, have died.

Rewa Divisional Commissioner Rajesh Jain said, "after fishing out 18 bodies initially, rescuers have retrieved 19 more bodies,"

Adding, "A total of 37 bodies--16 women, 20 men and a child--have been fished out of the Bansagar canal till now, and a magisterial probe had been ordered."

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Umesh Joga, Inspector General (Rewa zone) said eighteen bodies have been fished out of the Bansagar canal until now.

"At least 20 other passengers are feared missing, and a search and rescue operation is underway," he said.

He added that at least seven people swam to safety after the bus landed into the canal near Patna village, around 80 kms. away from the Sidhi district headquarter, around 8:30 AM.

PM Modi has approved an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PM's National Relief Fund for next kin of those who lost their lives.

PMO tweeted, "PM @narendramodi has approved an ex-gratia of Rs. 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. Rs. 50,000 would be given to those seriously injured."

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According to the sources, at least 50 passengers were travelling in the ill-fated bus at the time of the accident.

-PTC News