Madhya Pradesh: 13 die as bus falls into Narmada river
The bus was more than 10 years old and its fitness certificate was about to expire in about 10 days, an RTO official said.
![Madhya Pradesh: 13 die as bus falls into Narmada river](https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/article/177273-qnyffeduqx-1658129295.jpeg)
Thirteen people died as a bus fell off a bridge into Narmada river on Monday in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district, PTI reported.
Fifteen passengers have been rescued, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra told reporters.
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation bus was headed to Amalner in Jalgaon district from Indore. It was carrying 30 to 32 passengers.
It broke through a railing off the Sanjay Setu bridge in Khalghat town and fell into the river, reported NDTV.
#MadhyaPradesh के धार जिले के खलघाट में महाराष्ट्र रोडवेज की एक बस संजय सेतु पुल की रेलिंग तोड़कर नर्मदा नदी में गिर गई। बस में करीब 40-50 यात्रियों के सवार होने की सूचना है। बचाव कार्य जारी।@TheQuint @QuintHindi pic.twitter.com/HdRcczQfxO
— Vishnukant (@vishnukant_7) July 18, 2022
Officials said that the bus has been taken out of the river amid heavy rainfall, according to NDTV. Mishra said that a technical failure such as steering or brake failure could have resulted in the accident.
Before the bus was retrieved, Dhamnod police station in-charge Rajkumar Yadav had told The Times of India: “The bus is completely submerged in the depths of Narmada river. There is little chance of any survivors.”
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation said that 13 bodies have been retrieved from the river, PTI reported.
An unidentified worker of the Regional Transport Office told PTI that the bus was more than 10 years old.
“The bus was registered with the Nagpur rural Regional Transport Office on June 12, 2012 and its certificate, which implies that the vehicle is roadworthy, was about to expire on July 27, 2022,” he added.
Madhya Pradesh | 12 people dead, 15 rescued after a Maharashtra Roadways bus going from Indore to Pune falls off Khalghat Sanjay Setu in Dhar district pic.twitter.com/sbNxBX7fST
— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) July 18, 2022
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he spoke to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, after which cranes were dispatched to the accident spot.
“A team from Maharashtra has also reached the place for rescue work and some more officials are reaching,” Fadnavis added. “I have also asked former minister Girish Mahajan to go there immediately.”
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said he has instructed state Chief Secretary Manukumar Srivastava and Shekhar Channe, managing director of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation, to offer assistance to the rescued passengers.
Shinde has asked the state-run bus company to provide ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the deceased, ANI reported.
Expressing grief on the deaths, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that he was monitoring the situation.
“In this hour of grief, the victims’ families should not consider themselves alone, I and the entire state are with them,” he tweeted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other political leaders also expressed grief on the accident.
The bus tragedy in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh is saddening. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. Rescue work is underway and local authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 18, 2022
Deeply saddened by the tragic ST bus accident in Dhar District of Madhya Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences are with the grieving families and wishing a speedy recovery for the injured passengers.
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) July 18, 2022
Deeply saddened to know that many lives have been lost when a bus fell into the Narmada river in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. May they remain strong to bear this loss. Wish and pray those missing can be saved.
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) July 18, 2022