5 killed as bus plunges into pond

Jabalpur, Aug 14(UNI) Two women and three children were killed and more than 25 others injured, five seriously, when a private bus veered out of control and plunged into a pond at Ronjha village near Patan in this district, police said today.

The bus was coming here from Patan last evening when it met with the accident apparently due to the carelessness of driver Mahendra Agrawal, who fled the spot immediately after the accident.

The bus which overturned after it plunged into the pond was lifted up late in the night.

The authorities sanctioned ex-gratia of Rs one lakh each to the next of kin of two women and Rs 50,000 each to the next of kin of three children - Anees(3), Bittu(1 and half year) and Raman(3), who were killed in the accident.

The injured were being treated at the hospitals at Jabalpur and Patan, official sources said, adding the condition of five remained serious.

UNI RG-SP 1232