Patna: At least 12 persons died and over 37 others were seriously injured when an overcrowded private bus turned turtle and plunged 30-feet into a dry canal from an overbridge near Runnisaidpur on National Highway-77 in Sitamarhi district, around 120km north of Patna, on Saturday. However, only 10 deaths were confirmed officially.
The injured, majority of them women and children, have been admitted to the Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital at Muzaffarpur where the condition of eight persons was said to be critical. The police said the death toll may increase as many of the injured were in critical condition.
The mishap occurred around 5.30pm when the bus belonging to Chandan Travel agency was heading towards Aurai from Muzaffarpur through Runnisaidpur in Sitamarhi district. The bus carrying over 70 passengers was running at a speed of over 80 km/per hour when it met with the accident.
Locals said the driver of the bus lost control because of high speed and the vehicle hit the railings of the overbridge near Bhasanpatti before plunging about 30 feet into the canal, leading to death of eight persons on the spot. Four others succumbed to injuries on their way to hospital.
Sitamarhi district magistrate (DM) Rajeev Raushan confirmed the death of only 10 persons and said the toll may rise. "All the 37 injured have been admitted to SKMCH. District administration officials were camping at the hospital to look after treatment of the injured," he told The Telegraph over phone.
A police official said a crane had been pressed into service to lift the ill-fated bus from the ditch.
The police had to face the ire of residents due to delay in rescue operation. The residents shouted slogans demanding adequate compensation and proper treatment of the injured.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar expressed his deep sorrow and grief over the incident and directed district officials concerned to provide compensation to the next of kin of the dead as per rule. Nitish also directed the officials to ensure proper treatment of the injured.
The Sitamarhi district magistrate clarified the family members of those killed in the mishap would be provided Rs 4 lakh each as ex-gratia. The district administration would bear the expenses on their treatment.
The Runnisaidpur police, under whose jurisdiction the site of occurrence falls, said efforts were on to ascertain the identity of the dead. Majority of the victims were said to be residents of Aurai and its adjoining areas in Muzaffarpur.
The bus had left Bairia bus stand in Muzaffarpur around 4pm. A new driver was employed by the travel agency to run the bus on Saturday.
Last week, altogether 11 persons lost their lives when a sport utility vehicle crushed them near Dalsinghsarai in Samastipur district.
