5 killed, 16 hurt in van-bus collision in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, Jan 30: Five persons were killed and 16 others, including women, were injured when a pick up van they were travelling in, collided with a bus in Balrampur district of Chhattisgarh, police said on Saturday.

The mishap occurred near Judaniya nullah under Kotwali police station limits last night when the victims were heading towards Budduri village from Maheshpur after attending an engagement ceremony, Station House Officer (SHO), Kotwali KK Shukla told PTI.

As per preliminary investigation, the over speeding pick up van first hit a truck and subsequently its rear end was collided with the bus which was coming from the opposite direction, he said. The impact of the collision was so severe that five persons travelling in the pick up van died on the spot, the officer said.

Sixteen injured people, some of them women, were immediately admitted at a nearby hospital, he said, adding that their condition was stated to be out of danger.

A police team was rushed to the spot along with medical aid, he said, adding a case has been registered in this connection and investigations are underway.

PTI