2 dead, 19 injured in bus accident

Kohima, Nov 04 (UNI) At least two persons were killed and 19 others injured, two of them seriously, when the bus, in which they were travelling, met with an accident at Kisama, about 15 kms from here.

Official sources said here today that the accident occurred last night when the bus skidded off National Highway 39 and plunged into a 70 feet deep gorge.

The bus had been hired by the members of the Lerie Ao Baptist Youth fellowship from Kohima and they were proceeding to the Naga Heritage Village at Kisama, the venue of the annual Hornbill Festival of Nagaland, the sources added.

The bus, carrying 21 persons, including the driver and conductor, was returning from Kisama to Kohima and while negotiating a sharp turn, the driver lost control and the bus skidded off the road and fell into the gorge.

The nearby villagers rushed to the spot and rescued the passengers, who were immediately sent to different hospitals in Kohima where one of the youths and the conductor succumbed to their injuries.

Police registered a case and was trying to ascertain the cause of the accident, the sources added.

UNI