Kolkata: Thirty-six persons killed and several went missing after a bus carrying nearly 50 passengers crashed through a bridge railing and plunged into a canal. The incident happened in West Bengal's Murshidabad district on Monday morning.


As per information, the primary investigation suggests that the driver lost control of the vehicle.

The Malda-bound public transport bus fell off the Nalini Buske bridge into the Gobra canal in Balirghat area around 6 a.m.

A compensation of Rs five lakh each to the bereaved families was announced by the state.

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Earlier in the day, angry locals pelted police with stones and torched two police vehicles, accusing them of arriving late for rescue operations. Stones were hurled at a fire tender that was sent there to put out the fire. Police lobbed teargas shells and baton-charged the protesters.

Hundreds of villagers & anxious relatives of the passengers gathered on the canal banks as four cranes were pressed into service to fish out the bus submerged in the water.

(with input from agencies)