Raipur:
At least 20 people were injured today when a private bus fell into the swollen Sheonath river in Balodabazar district of Chhattisgarh, police said.
The accident occurred around 10.30 am when the private bus, heading towards Bhatapara from Bilaspur, fell off the bridge at Semariya Ghat under Bhatapara rural police station limits, Balodabazar Superintendent of Police, Abhishek Shandilya told PTI.
Soon after being informed about the incident, a police team was rushed to the spot along with rescue personnel, he said.
"So far 19 passengers and conductor of the bus have been rescued from the river and admitted to a nearby hospital," he said.
According to the conductor, the bus was carrying over 20 passengers when the mishap occurred but could not exactly account for how many were onboard.
The rescuers, including divers, were still conducting searches to trace those missing and to ascertain if anybody has drowned, he added.
The driver of the bus jumped off the bus before it plunged into the river and fled from the spot, the SP said, adding, efforts are on to trace him.