Bihar: 32 feared dead as bus falls into pond in Madhubani district

Nearly 50 passengers were feared dead after a bus fell into a pond in Madhubani district on Monday afternoon.

At least 32 people, including 11 children, were feared killed when a mini-bus carrying more than 50 people plunged into a lake around 11.30 am on Monday.

Eyewitnesses said the driver lost control and the bus plunged into the pond, which is approximately 25 feet deep. (HT Photo)

Madhubani district magistrate Giriwar Dayal Singh confirmed that 32 bodies were fished out by late evening, though disaster management department officials put the death toll at 29.

Some 13 passengers on board the bus, which was travelling from Benipatti in Madhubani district to Pupri in Sitamarhi, were rescued, officials said.

They were rushed to hospital at Madhubani, and the critically injured were sent to Darbhanga medical college hospital, district magistrate Singh said.

The accident took place at Basaith between Shivnagar and Sanhouli villages under the jurisdiction of Benipatti police station of Madhubani district.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar, who was in Gopalganj, expressed grief over the incident and instructed revenue minister Madan Mohan Jha and panchayati raj minister Kapildeo Kamat to rush to the accident site.

He directed RK Khandelwal, the commissioner of Darbhanga, and IG Uma Shankar Susdhanshu, to oversee the rescue operations. The CM announced Rs 4 lakh for the kin of each deceased.

The incident sparked mob fury, with groups going on the rampage for close to two hours. Alleging delay in rescue operations, they targeted the police, their vehicles and the state disaster relief force.

District magistrate Singh, 19 police officials and members of the state and national disaster response forces were injured and five of their vehicles destroyed by the mobs.

SP Deepak Barnwal said police were resorted to a lathicharge, which, however, did not deter the mob. Police then fired in the air.