Overcrowded bus ferrying migrants from Delhi to Tikamgarh overturns, 3 dead; passengers say driver was drunk

Accident: 3 dead & 7 injured after an overloaded bus with 100 labourers returning from Delhi to Tikamgarh lost balance at Jhorasi ghati in Gwalior. Many jumped to save their lives. Tikamghar in MP’s Bundelkhand region has a large population of migrant labourers @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/U476AqGLlv

— Iram Siddique (@Scribbly_Scribe) April 20, 2021

Speaking to The Indian Express, Anil Singh Bhadoria, Station House Officer from Bhilow police station, said the accident took place at a steep turn, which then has a downward gradient, making it difficult for drivers to control their vehicles.

He said the driver of the bus is absconding and the allegations of him being drunk are yet to be ascertained.

“There have been at least 15 accidents at the same turn where the bus lost balanced this morning. We have also written a letter to concerned officials to work on the road which is accident prone,” said Bhadoria.

Apart from the passengers inside the bus, there were several who were sitting on top as well.

According to Ganpatlal Ahirwar, a mason who was returning from Delhi’s Sarai Kale Khan to his village in Tikamgarh, both the driver and conductor were drunk. “There were 350 people in the bus and we were made to pay Rs 700 per person. The driver had stopped the bus near Dholpur and both he and the conductor were drunk. He had hit a truck driver too, after which the truck driver took the keys of the bus. We somehow got the keys back from him.”

After the accident, the injured were rushed to J A Hospital in Gwalior were they are being treated. Two other buses were arranged for the remaining passengers who have been sent ahead on their journey.

“We are contacting the owner of the bus and the driver will soon be arrested,” said Bhadoria.

Tikamghar, in MP’s Bundelkhand region, has a large population of migrant labourers.

The national capital is witnessing an exodus of migrants as the second wave of Covid-19 ushers in fresh restrictions.