MP: Bus carrying 54 passengers falls into canal; rescue operation underway

A bus, carrying around 54 passengers, fell into a canal in Sidhi after the driver lost control over it on Tuesday near Patna village in Madhya Pradesh. 7 people were rescued, search is underway for rest of the passengers. A team is present at spot and operation is underway. The bus was going from Sidhi to Satna when the incident occurred.

A team of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) personnel and swimmers have been pressed into the rescue operation. The incident occurred near Rewa-Sidhi border at around 8:30 am.

As per eyewitnesses, the bus has submerged in deep water and not visible now. It is feared that the bus was swept away in the water current.

Satyendra Khare, the Officer on Special Duty to the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, has said that Shivraj Singh Chouhan has taken cognizance of the mishap.

The MP CM has further asked the collector of Sidhi to intensify the rescue operation.

Due to the high water level in canal, rescuers are facing difficulties in carrying out the operation. In a bid to overcome this challenge, Chouhan has directed the authorities to stop releasing water from Bansagar Dam that has been constructed on river Sone in Shahdol district.

SDRF & divers have reached the spot. Water from Bansagar canal is being released into Sihawal Canal to lower its water level for rescue operation. CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan has taken cognisance of the matter. He has spoken to District Collector asking him to quicken the operation.

— ANI (@ANI) February 16, 2021