23 Dead, Many Injured After Bus Falls From Bridge In MP's Khargone, State Govt Announces Financial Relief

At least 23 people have died and over twenty-five injured after a bus fell from a bridge in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone.

At least 23 people have died and more than 25 injured after a bus fell from a bridge in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone. A rescue operation is underway, SP Dharam Veer Singh has said. The Madhya Pradesh government has announced immediate financial assistance of Rs 4 lakhs each to the families of the deceased, Rs 50,000 each to the seriously injured, and Rs 25,000 each to those who received minor injuries in the Khargone bus accident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed grief over the deaths in the tragic accident and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakhs to the kin of the deceased.

Rakesh Gupta, IG, Indore Rural Range said: " 23 people have died in the bus accident and 20-25 injured are being treated in Khargone hospital & 11 have been referred to Indore. Currently, the driver is also being treated and when we spoke to him, he is changing his versions about what happened. Investigation is underway," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. 

According to the Prime Minister's Office,  the injured would be given Rs 50,000.

As per the information, the bus fell into a river from a 50 feet high bridge on Khargone Thikri Marg. 35 people were on board the bus when the accident took place. 

The police also reached the spot and started the rescue operation. The incident occurred after the bus suddenly lost control and fell down. According to police and administration officials, there is a possibility of an increase in the number of deaths. Meanwhile, senior police officials and administration and villagers have reached the spot for rescue.  

The rescue team is constantly evacuating people and sending them to the hospital. Notably, the Borad River is dry due to which people traveling in the bus got injured. The bus was going from Shrikhadi to Indore. 

last month, four people had died and 22 were left injured in a collision between a truck and a private bus on the Pune–Bengaluru Highway near the Narhe area of Pune city in Maharashtra.