12 Dead, Several Injured As Bus Plunges Into Soil Mine Pit In Durg

In a tragic incident on Tuesday night, at least 12 individuals lost their lives and 14 others were injured when a bus, carrying employees of a private firm, plummeted into a murum soil mine pit in Chhattisgarh's Durg district.

The accident occurred around 8:30 pm near Khapri village, under the jurisdiction of Kumhari Police Station. The victims were on their way home from a distillery when the mishap took place, according to Durg Superintendent of Police Jitendra Shukla.

The bus, which was transporting more than 30 people, veered off the road and fell into the 40-feet deep pit. Among the deceased were three women. Initially, the death toll was reported to be 15, but was later confirmed to be 12 by Superintendent Shukla. Murum soil, commonly used in construction, became the site of this devastating accident.

Following the incident, a swift response was mounted by local police, State Disaster Response Force teams, and community members. Durg Collector Richa Prakash Choudhary announced that a magisterial investigation has been initiated to thoroughly examine the circumstances leading to the accident.

The employees were from Kediya Distilleries located in the Kumhari area. Of the injured, 12 have been admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Raipur, while two are receiving treatment at a local hospital. In response to this tragedy, compensation has been promised by both the company and local administration to the victims and their families.

Visuals from the scene depicted the overturned bus, highlighting the challenging conditions rescuers faced in the darkness. High-profile condolences have been expressed by national leaders. President Droupadi Murmu shared her sorrow over the loss of lives on social media platform X, extending her deepest sympathies to the families affected and wishing a quick recovery for those injured. Similarly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the accident as "very painful" and conveyed his condolences to those grieving while wishing for a speedy recovery of the injured. He also noted that local administration is actively providing assistance under state government supervision.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed his grief over the incident and assured that adequate arrangements are being made for the treatment of those injured. He offered prayers for the peace of the departed souls and strength for their families during this difficult time.

This tragic event has once again highlighted the importance of road safety measures and prompt emergency response mechanisms in mitigating losses and providing immediate aid to victims. The ongoing investigation aims to uncover the cause of this accident and implement measures to prevent such incidents in the future.