Bus plunges into river; 15 killed

Sidhi, MP, Sep 29 (UNI) At least 15 people were killed and 55 others sustained injuries when a private bus plunged into the Kachni river after one of its tyres burst on the bridge near Baithan in Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh today.

Police sources said the injured were being treated at the government hospital at Baithan. The accident site is about 100 km from here.

The district authorities are planning to lift the partially submerged bus with the help of cranes as more bodies were suspected to be trapped in it.

The Baithan-Mada bus fell into the river after the tyre burst on the bridge around 1230 hrs, the sources said.

At least two women and an equal number of children were among those dead. Fifteen bodies have already been recovered.

The District Collector, who was touring the area, was overseeing the relief operations, Additional Superintendent of Police B S Chouhan said.

UNI XC-SP RL BD1751