At least nine people were killed in a tragic mishap after an auto collided with a bus West Bengal's Birbhum district on Tuesday. "Nine persons, including eight women farm labourers, died when an autorickshaw and a state transport bus collided on National Highway-60 in Bengal's Birbhum district on Tuesday afternoon, a senior police officer told news agency PTI.
According to reports, the incident occurred at Mallarpur near Rampurhat when the overcrowded auto rickshaw collided head-on with the South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC) bus.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish at the loss of lives in an accident and announced Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased. "Anguished by the loss of lives due to a tragic accident in Birbhum district of West Bengal. Prayers with the injured," Modi was quoted as saying in a tweet by his office.
Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) would be given to the next of kin of each deceased and the injured would be given Rs 50,000, Modi said.
A police team led by the sub- divisional police officer of Rampurhat, Dhiman Mitra had reached the spot. "The bodies of the deceased have been sent for autopsy," Mitra said.
The police are yet to identify the persons killed in the accident. However, they said that most of them were daily wage earners.
An eyewitness told the police the accident happened because the driver of the bus, which was over-speeding, could not apply the brakes on time.