11 killed in bus-SUV collision in Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh: The accident was reported in the Betul area.
Eleven people were reported to have died when a bus collided with an SUV in Madhya Pradesh's Betul, about 170 km from state capital of Bhopal. All those who died were travelling in the SUV. Among those killed were two children, news agency PTI reported.
A case has been filed and probe is on. "Six men, three women, a girl aged around five years, and a toddler died on the spot in the accident that took place around 2 am," police officer Shivraj Singh Thakur told the news agency.
According to initial inputs received, the driver of the SUV rammed an empty bus after he reportedly dozed off. All the bodies have been sent for post-mortem. Visuals showed massive damage to both the vehicles in the crash.
In a tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office quoted him as saying: “Pained by the loss of lives due to an accident in Betul, MP. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF (Prime Minister's National Relief Fund) would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. Rs. 50,000 would be given to the injured.”
The state government has said that those injured would be treated for free and a compensation of ₹2 lakh would be given to the families of those who lost their lives. “The sad news of a horrific road accident has been received in Jhallar (area) of Betul district. I pray to God for peace to the departed souls and speedy recovery of the injured. We are with the bereaved family in this hour of grief,” Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan wrote in a tweet in Hindi.
(With inputs from PTI)
