Uttar Pradesh: Passenger bus falls into canal in Sitapur; 10 killed, 10 injured

Sitapur (UP):  Ten persons, including two women were on Friday killed and ten others were seriously injured when an overcrowded bus in which they were travelling, plunged into Sharda canal near here. The incident took place near Laxarpur village in the district, adjoining Lucknow. While eight persons have been identified, two persons remained unidentified. The bus (UP 81-9216) belonged to a company named Baba Tourist. The dead have been identified as Jai Devi (32), Hari Govind Yadav (36), Rani (35), Mullu (40), Rajni (25), Arsia (30), Afsana Bano and Hiralal (32). Additional District Magistrate, Sitapur, R S Tiwari said the private bus fell into the canal on Leharpur Bisva road under Taalgaon police station when the driver lost control over the vehicle. Local people rushed for help and rescued several passengers. Later, police and civil officials also arrived to gear up the rescue efforts, he said. 10 persons were sent to hospital in critical condition, he added. Rescue operations were underway with the help of divers to trace missing passengers, he said, fearing the toll might rise. A crane was brought to retrieve the bus from the canal, he said.