Kota:
At least eight persons died and 17 were injured after a traveller bus overturned and fell into a ditch on Delhi-Mumbai expressway in Kota, Rajasthan early today morning. The bus was carrying passengers from Bhopal to Khatu Shyam. The injured have been taken to MBS hospital and New Medical College.
District Collector Peeyush Samariya and IG Harendra Mahawar have also reached MBS hospital.
Five of the eight who died are women. The victims have been identified as Aruna, Vaishnavi, Trisha, Krishna, Anita, Om, Suryavanshi, and Raju.
An official confirmed they got information about the incident at around 8 am. Seven people were brought dead, the official said, adding that those injured are being taken care of and no one is critical as of now.
According to preliminary information, the bus went out of control after the driver dozed off, and the vehicle then broke through the railing and plunged into a ditch. The incident led to outcry at the scene, following which police arrived and began relief and rescue operations.
All four available ambulances were dispatched to the site to ensure the injured could be promptly transported to the hospital. The injured are currently undergoing treatment.
Police said the bus carrying 27 passengers were traveling from Bhopal to Khatu Shyam.
Speaking about the incident, ASP Ram Kalyan Meena said, “Some passengers were travelling from Bhopal to Khatu Shyam Ji in a minibus. In Kota, within the Simliya Police Station area, the driver apparently dozed off while driving on the eight-lane expressway, causing the bus to fall into a culvert.”
“Around eight people have died, while approximately 15 to 17 others are undergoing treatment at the Medical College and MBS Hospital,” he added, quoted IANS.
