Murshidabad bus accident toll rises to 42, govt announces compensation

Berhampore/Kolkata: The toll in the bus accident in Murshidabad rose to 42 with the recovery of six more bodies by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel from Bhandardaha lake over Nalini Baske bridge in Daulatadabad on Tuesday. The toll may rise further.

On Tuesday morning, the NDRF divers resumed the search operation with multiple boats. At around 9.30 am, six decomposed bodies were taken out of the bed of the waterbody where they had been stuck.

One of them was of Mintu Sheikh, the bus conductor. He was the brother of Sentu Sheikh, the bus driver, who the survivors have accused of talking on the mobile phone while driving, leading to the disaster.

The 42 bodies were identified before their post-mortem under the supervision of Dr Biplab Shee, the head of the department of forensic science at Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital.

Many of the bodies were later handed over to the families of the victims, most of whom were from Nadia and Murshidabad.

The NDRF officials suspect that few more bodies might have remained stuck in the bed of the waterbody as 11 survivors had said that around 60 passengers were onboard the fateful bus of the North Bengal State Transport Corporation.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee was in Berhmapore since Monday afternoon with transport minister Suvendu Adhikary.

Before leaving for Kolkata in the morning she said, “The family members of the victims were provided all kind of cooperation. District magistrate (Murshidabad) have already handed over the compensation of Rs 5 lakhs to them on behalf of the government. If there are some more missing, search will be carried out. We have instructed inspection of the bridge properly. Besides, speed restrictions will be imposed.”

Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi and Speaker Biman Banerjee mourned the loss of lives in the Assembly on the commencement of the Budget Session.

In his address, Mr Tripathi said, “My government has noted with great sorrow the tragic road accident that claimed many lives in Daulatabad in Murshidabad district. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of those dead or missing.”

He added, “My government will provide Rs 5 lakh as ex-gratia to the next kin of those deceased. We will also provide Rs 1lakh each to those grievously injured in this accident and Rs 50,000 each to the remaining passengers.”