Madhya Pradesh: The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation’s (MSRTC) bus that plunged into the Narmada river in the morning today reported 12 deaths including the driver and the conductor. CM Eknath Shinde extending condolences announced ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the family of each deceased while PM Modi announced financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to those injured.
Of the 10 passengers, five were from Maharashtra and five others from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Chandrakant Eknath Patil (45) was driving the bus and Prakash Shravan Chaudhary (40) was the conductor. Both were from Amalner in Jalgaon and died in the incident. MSRTC has denied the media reports that the bus was carrying 40 to 50 passengers and reiterated that there were only 10 passengers on the bus. Nearly 15 were rescued from the drowning bus .
The bus registered with Nagpur rural Regional Transport Office on June 12, 2012, skidded off a slippery road and plunged into the river at 7: 30am in the Khalghat area of Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district on the Agra-Mumbai Highway. According to sources, the vehicle was in service for ten years and its road worthiness was set to expire on July 27 this year. As per the preliminary investigation, the driver’s attempt to save a motorcycle caused the mishap. However, a committee has been formed to conduct a detailed investigation of the incident.