Toll 17 in MP bus mishap

Bhopal, Jan 29 (UNI) The death toll went up to 17 today in the private bus-truck head-on collision on the Agra-Mumbai National Highway near Guna's Kanchanpura village yesterday.

Sixteen, including two women and a child, died yesterday -- seven on the spot. Four of the injured were rushed to Gwalior and two here while 19 were admitted to the Guna district hospital. One of the victims succumbed at Gwalior, official sources said. The deceased, 13 of whom were identified, included the bus driver and conductor.

The accident took place 10 km from Guna district headquarters.

The bus was en route to Kumbhraj from Guna. The truck driver and cleaner were absconding. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced ex gratia of Rs 50,000 each to the next of kin of the dead.

UNI Team-AC 1045