Passenger bus falls into ditch in Ch'garh; five dead

Raipur, Oct 21: Five persons were killed and 26 others injured when a passenger bus plunged into a 50-ft deep ditch in Surajpur district of

, police said today.

The incident occurred at Pendari Ghat valley when the bus was proceeding from Ambikapur to Baidhan late last evening, Surajpur Superintendent of Police Prakhar Pandey said. When the bus, belonging to a private travel agency, reached near the hilly region of Chandora Police Station area, located around 400 kms away from the state capital, the driver failed to negotiate a curve on the slope of the Ghat, following which the bus fell into the ditch, Pandey said.

Soon after being informed, a police team was rushed to the spot along with medical aid, he said. Five passengers died on the spot while 26 others were injured, 16 of them seriously, and were referred to a hospital at Ambikapur. Rest of the injured was admitted to Pratappur hospital, the SP added. A case has been registered in this connection and further probe was on, he said.

PTI