Dhar, July 18, 2022: Thirteen people have died after a Maharashtra government bus plunged into river Narmada in Madhya Pradesh today. 15 have been rescued.
The bus, which was headed to Pune from Indore, skidded off a slippery road and fell into the river after breaking the railing off a bridge in Khalghat area of Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district on the Agra-Mumbai Highway.
The bus departed from Indore city around 7.30 am and was going to Amalner, officials said.
धार जिले के खलघाट में पुल की रेलिंग तोड़ने के बाद महाराष्ट्र रोडवेज की एक बस नर्मदा नदी में गिर गई। बस में करीब 50-60 यात्री सवार थे pic.twitter.com/skeVD2hByP
— Anurag Dwary (@Anurag_Dwary) July 18, 2022
"The district administration team is present at the accident site. The bus has been removed. I am in constant touch with Khargone, Dhar district administration. Instructions have been given to make arrangements for proper treatment of the injured," Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in a tweet, expressing grief over the loss of lives in the accident.
As rescue operations continue, around 40 passengers could have been on board the bus. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been rushed to the spot, officials informed.
The bus, belonging to the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), has been retrieved amid heavy rainfall in the area, officials informed.
Although the reason for the accident is not yet known, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said brake or steering failure may have resulted in the accident.