Ten passengers, including two women, were killed when a private bus fell into a 150-foot deep ravine near Machliya Ghat in Dhar district late on Monday night. The bus was on its way to Galiyakot, Rajasthan, from Indore. The deceased included the bus driver, Prahlad.
According to Sardarpur police, at the time of accident, there were 70 passengers in the bus. More than 50 passengers were also injured in the tragedy. Police are investigating the matter to ascertain the cause of accident.
Some passengers who escaped injury said they heard a loud noise of tyre burst before the bus fell into the ravine.
The injured were admitted to Jhabua and Rajgarh hospitals. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 lakh each to kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. He also announced treatment of the injured at government cost.
Senior officials from both Dhar and Jhabua districts reached the spot and reviewed rescue operations.
Nearly 50 policemen, 30 search lights and a crane were pressed into the rescue work, Dhar superintendent of police Rajesh Hingankar said.