Many feared dead, as bus plunges into a canal in Bengal's Murshidabad district

KOLKATA: A bus carrying at least 40 passengers plunged into a deep canal in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district. According to the locals, the bus while crossing the bridge lost control and hit the railing of the bridge. At around 6.30 am, the bus fell off the bridge, said the eye witnesses. The locals, who rushed to rescue the passengers, could save around seven lives, while four bodies could be fished out.
It took at least 12 hours and four cranes to take the bus out of water. Till the last reports came in, there was no clarity on the casualty figure. Senior officials present at the spot told ET that number of casualty cannot be ascertained till the bus is completely out of water, however, the NDRF team could see many bodies inside the bus while taking it out, he added. The bus was travelling from Nadia to Malda district.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rushed to the spot. Before leaving the state secretariat, the chief minister announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the kin who died in the accident.

The reason behind the accident is yet to be ascertained as the vehicle is not yet out of water. There was no CCTV installed at the bridge or nearby highways. The passengers who survived said that the driver was talking on phone and driving the bus at a high speed simultaneously.

Even as the locals and administration were racing against time to rescue the victims, an angry mob hit out at the police and administration accusing them of delay in reaching the spot. The irate mob set some vehicles on fire and pelted stones at the police. Some senior police officials and personnel were injured. The police had to charge tear gas shells and batons to chase out the mob.