21 dead as bus falls off bridge, catches fire in MP

Panna (MP)/ New Delhi, May 4

Twenty-one persons were charred to death and 13 others sustained burn injuries when the private bus they were travelling in fell into a nullah and caught fire in the district on Monday.

The accident took place near Pandav fall, close to Panna Tiger Reserve, nearly 14 km from the district headquarters.

“We have pulled out 21 charred bodies from the bus which was on its way to Satna district from Chhatarpur district," Superintendent of Police I P Arjaria told PTI over phone from the accident spot.

The injured persons were rushed to a hospital.

Arjaria said the diesel tank of the bus exploded after it skidded off a bridge and fell 15 feet down into a nullah. The resultant fire gutted the vehicle completely.

Rescue operation had almost come to an end, the SP added.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced financial help of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 to the seriously injured and the injured victims, respectively. He also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

PM condoles loss of lives in bus accident 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the loss of lives in a bus accident in Madhya Pradesh and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

"News of bus accident in Panna, MP is extremely saddening. Condolences to families of the deceased. I wish the injured a speedy recovery," he said. — PTI