Tragic Bus Accident in Durg Claims Lives of 12 Distillery Workers

In a tragic incident on Tuesday night in Chhattisgarh's Durg district, a bus accident resulted in the death of at least 12 individuals and injuries to 14 others. The victims, all employees of a private firm, met with the accident as their bus veered off the road and fell into a murum soil mine pit near Khapri village, under the jurisdiction of Kumhari Police Station. The accident occurred around 8:30 pm as the employees were returning from Kediya Distilleries located in the Kumhari area.

Durg Superintendent of Police, Jitendra Shukla, reported that the bus was carrying more than 30 people when it skidded off the road and plunged into the 40 feet deep pit. Among the deceased were three women. Initially, Shukla had confirmed the death toll to be 15, but this number was later revised to 12. Murum soil, commonly used in construction, became the site of this devastating accident.

Following the incident, a swift response from local police, State Disaster Response Force teams, and community members facilitated rescue operations. Durg Collector Richa Prakash Choudhary announced that a magisterial probe has been ordered to investigate the circumstances leading to this tragic event.

The injured have been rushed to medical facilities for treatment. "Of the 14 injured, 12 have been taken to All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur, while two others are undergoing treatment at a local hospital," Choudhary stated. She also mentioned that Kediya Distilleries, the employer of the victims, along with administrative support, will provide compensation to those affected by this tragedy.

Visuals from the accident site depicted the overturned bus amidst darkness, highlighting the challenging conditions faced by rescuers. The incident has drawn national attention with President Droupadi Murmu expressing her condolences on social media platform X. "I am deeply saddened by the news of deaths... My deepest condolences to all the bereaved families. I wish for speedy recovery of the injured," she wrote.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his sympathies, describing the accident as "very painful" and extending his condolences to those who lost their loved ones. He assured that under state government supervision, local administration is providing all possible assistance to the victims.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed his grief over the accident and confirmed that adequate arrangements have been made for treating the injured. "Received the news about the death of employees of a private company in a bus accident... I pray that departed souls rest in peace and may God give strength to the bereaved family members," Sai remarked.

The magisterial enquiry into this incident aims to uncover any negligence or factors that contributed to this tragedy and ensure accountability. As investigations proceed, authorities are committed to taking action against those found guilty in this heart-wrenching event.