Seven die, 42 injured in bus mishap

Shillong, June 27 (UNI) Seven people, including four women and a child died and 42 were injured in a bus accident at Myndihati NH-44 in Jaintia Hills, about 106 km from here, this morning.

Additional Deputy Commissioner N Nampui told UNI over phone from Khiehriat that the bus, which was proceeding towards Agartala from Guwahati, overturned at Myndihati area.

Ms Nampui said the injured had been rushed to the nearest hospital and district civil hospital at Jowai, the district headquarters of Jaintia Hills, while a nine-year-old boy succumbed to injuries on way to hospital.

As per preliminary investigation, Sub-Divisional Police Officer M Syiem said the night super bus was over-loaded with betel nuts and was moving at high speed leading to the mishap.

Mr Syiem said the driver and the handy man of the ill-fated bus were absconding.

Meanwhile, relatives of the victims have come and identified the injured persons and claimed the bodies of the deceased.

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