Sidhi, Madhya Pradesh: 32 people have died in Madhya Pradesh’s Sidhi district, about 560 km from state capital Bhopal, after a bus fell off a bridge into a canal; many more are feared drowned. Seven people have been rescued so far, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.
About 60 passengers were on board the bus when the driver lost control of the vehicle at around 7:30 am.
A team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with other officials concerned, began the rescue operations in the morning, the Chief Minister said. Doctors and ambulances were also rushed to the site.
“What has happened is extremely tragic. Rescue work is already on. Two ministers – Water Resources Minister Tulsiram Silawat and MOS for Panchyat Ramkhelawan Patel – are on their way to the site in a state plane. Families of those who have died will be given a compensation of ₹ 5 lakh. The entire state is standing with those affected,” Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in a video message.
On this incident, CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan said that, “The canal is quite deep. We immediately stopped the water from the dam and sent relief and rescue teams. The team of Collector, SP and SDRF are there. Efforts are being made to remove the bus. I am in touch with the team doing relief and rescue operations.
