Bengal bus mishap: Death toll rises to 5, rescue ops underway, state announces compensation
Kolkata, Jan 29 (IBNS): At least 5 persons were killed and several went missing after a public bus fell into a deep canal at Balir Ghat area under Daulatabad Police Station in West Bengal's Murshidabad district on Monday, officials said.
According to reports, a Jalangi to Behrampur bound bus with at least 56 people on board lost control and fell into Bhairabi canal after smashing through the Nalini Baske bridge's guard wall in early morning.
"Local police, fire and emergency services officials, Disaster Management Group (DMG) personnel and, rescue workers and trained divers from National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF) responded to the incident and our rescue operation is still underway," a senior official of Murshidabad district police told IBNS.
"At least four hydraulic cranes are continuously trying to recover the bus from the deep canal and we are expecting to complete the rescue operation by this evening," the official added.
The accident followed a mob violence leading to torching of a police vehicle as locals alleged delay in rescue operations.
The situation prompted police to resort to lathicharge.
The state government has announced a compensation of Rs. 5 lakh each to the deceased's families, Rs. 1 lakh to those seriously injured and Rs. 50,000 to other injured persons.
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Transport Minister Suvendu Adhikari and all senior police and administrative officials have reached the crash site to oversee the search and rescue operations, according to reports.
(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)
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