Bus Mishap In Chhattisgarh: Number Of Deaths Rises To 16

Raipur: The number of deaths in the bus accident in Chhattisgarh's Balrampur district has gone up to 16, with three more persons, including a woman, succumbing to their injuries at a hospital, police said today.

13 people were killed and 53 others injured last night when the crowded private bus fell off a small bridge into the dry bed of a rivulet at Daldhowa ghat under Balrampur police station limits, about 400 km from here.

"Three persons died in Ambikapur district hospital in the night hours. Thirteen others who were in a critical condition were shifted to Raipur," Balrampur Superintendent of Police Sadanand Kumar said.

The other injured passengers were admitted to a local hospital in Balrampur, he said.

The bus was on its way to Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur from Gadhwa in neighbouring Jharkhand when the accident took place at Daldhowa ghat at around 10.30 pm yesterday.

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As per preliminary information, the driver of the luxury bus, belonging to a private travel agency, suddenly spotted a motorcycle at a sharp curve in Daldhowa. In a bid to save the person on the two-wheeler, the bus driver lost control over the wheels following which the vehicle skidded into the dry rivulet bed and overturned, the SP said.

The identity of the victims was being ascertained, he said, adding that the bus driver was also killed in the mishap.

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Meanwhile, Chief Minister Raman Singh today visited the injured passengers referred to Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital in Raipur, and directed the health officials to provide best medical care to them.

Mr Singh also prayed for their speedy recovery, an official spokesperson here said.