Eleven people, including women and children, were feared drowned when a state transport bus slipped and fell off a ferry into a creek at Middle Strait, about 50 km from Port Blair on Thursday.
Inspector General of Police, Andamans, SB Deol, said, "There were eleven persons in the bus when it fell into the creek at 12:30 pm. They are feared drowned."
The ferry suddenly backed away from the jetty as the bus was driving onto it. This resulted in the bus falling into the creek, he said.
The bus, which had 19 people on board, was en route from Northern Park, Diglipur to Port Blair via the Andaman Trunk Road.
However, eight had alighted from the bus onto the ferry as it was crossing the Middle Strait. The other 11 remained in the bus, the IGP said.
The driver managed to save himself by jumping out from his cabin, he said.