On Tuesday night, tragedy struck as a bus belonging to a private firm plunged into a ‘murum’ soil mine pit in the Kumhari region of Chhattisgarh’s Durg district, resulting in the loss of lives of at least 12 employees and leaving 14 others injured, according to authorities.
The accident took place around 8:30 pm near Khapri village under Kumhari police station limits when the victims — all employees of Kediya distillery company — were returning home from work, said Jitendra Shukla, Durg Superintendent of Police.
Fatal Bus Accident in Chhattisgarh: Rescue Operation Underway
Visuals showed the bus overturned, with a rescue operation in progress to free trapped passengers.
“12 people, including three women, were killed in the accident,” he added. The DSP had earlier said that the death toll was 15.
Meanwhile, Durg Collector Richa Prakash Choudhary told reporters that a magisterial probe had been ordered into the incident.
Durg: Updates and Relief Efforts
“The bus was carrying workers of Kediya Distilleries located in Kumhari area. So far the deaths of 12 people have been confirmed. 12 of the injured were taken to All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur, while 2 are being treated at a local hospital.
The company has offered compensation to the victims, and they will also receive aid from the administration.
As per preliminary information, the bus — carrying more than 30 persons — skidded off the road and fell into the 40 feet-deep ‘murum’ mine, DSP Shukla said.
He noted that a police team reached the spot soon after receiving information of the incident. A rescue operation was launched along with the teams of State Disaster Response Force and locals, Shukla added.
Also Read: US: भारतीय-अमेरिकी छात्र की मौत, पिता को कॉल कर मांगी गई थी 1200 डॉलर की फिरौती