MP Bus Accident: 45 Bodies Recovered, Govt Announces Ex-Gratia

Sidhi: As many as 45 dead bodies have been recovered in the tragic bus accident in Madhya Pradesh's Sidhi district on Tuesday during the rescue operation, informed Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

As per latest reports, the ill-fated bus loaded with passengers fell off a bridge into a canal near Patna village in the district killing 45 people, including 20 women. Bodies of the deceased were handed over to their respective families.

"Madhya Pradesh government has decided to give an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakhs each for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the bus accident. Rs 10,000 each has been given to them immediately," said Chouhan.

Meanwhile, PM Narendra Modi approved an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs each from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives in the bus accident. Rs 50,000 would be given to those seriously injured.

The bus with over 50 passengers was on way from Siddhi to Satna when it went out of control and fell into the canal in Rampur police station jurisdiction around 7.30 am.

State Water Resources Minister Tulsiram Silawat confirmed that 30 bodies had been fished out till now.

After instructions from the Chief Minister, both Silawat and state Minister Ramkhilavan Patel have gone to the spot for supervision of ongoing search and rescue operation.

BJP MLA Shardendu Tiwari told IANS that State Disaster Response Force personnel and government officials were involved in the operation to retrieve the bus from the canal and look for survivors, if any.

Tiwari said that the bus fell into Sharada Canal, which is the main canal emerging from Bansagar Dam and is around 30 feet deep.

"The bus is completely submerged. It is heart-breaking. The water supply from Bansagar Dam has been stopped, due to which the water level has come down. It will help in the search operation. Seven persons have been rescued so far. More equipment, including cranes, have been rushed to the spot for rescue and relief operation."

(With Inputs From Nitesh Kumar Sahoo)