39 dead as bus falls into canal in Madhya Pradesh

Sidhi (Madhya Pradesh): At least 39 persons drowned when a bus loaded with passengers fell into a canal on Tuesday morning in Sidhi in Madhya Pradesh.

The bus with over 50 passengers was on way from Sidhi to Satna when it went out of control and fell into the canal in Rampur police station jurisdiction around 7.30 am.

BJP MLA Shardendu Tiwari told IANS that State Disaster Response Force personnel and government officials were involved in the operation to retrieve the bus from the canal and look for survivors, if any.

Tiwari said that the bus fell into Sharda Canal, which is the main canal emerging from Bansagar Dam and is around 30 feet deep.

“The bus is completely submerged. It is heartbreaking. The water supply from Bansagar Dam has been stopped, due to which the water level has come down. It will help in the search operation. Seven persons have been rescued so far. More equipment, including cranes, have been rushed to the spot for rescue and relief operation.”

(IANS)