43 feared dead after bus plunges into MP river

At least 43 people were feared dead after a bus plunged from a narrow bridge into a fast-flowing river in Madhya Pradesh, police said Thursday.

At least 43 people were feared dead after a bus plunged from a narrow bridge into a fast-flowing river in Madhya Pradesh, police said on Thursday.

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Police superintendent Yogesh Deshmukh, who is coordinating rescue work in Mandsaur district where the bus fell into the Retam river on Wednesday, told AFP by telephone that divers had only fished out seven survivors so far.

"There were 50 people travelling on the bus when it was pushed off the narrow bridge by the force of rising water," said Deshmukh.

"A dyke has been breached along the Retam river and is forcing water levels to dangerous levels. Water pressure literally knocked the bus off the bridge into the Retam river when it was making the crossing," he added.