At least 20 people were feared killed on Thursday when a bus fell into a roadside ditch at Motihari in Bihar’s East Champaran district and caught fire.
The State Disaster Management Department has confirmed the death of 20 passengers in the accident.
The bus was on its way to Delhi from Muzaffarpur in north Bihar when it overturned into a ditch along National Highway-28 near Bagra village under the Kotwa police station and caught fire.
According to sources, there were at least 32 passengers in the bus, while 17 others were to board it from Gopalgunj district.
“About five people have been rescued in the accident. The injured have been sent to local government hospitals in Motihari and Muzaffarpur.
“The total number of deaths is yet to be confirmed,” said East Champaran District Magistrate Raman Kumar.
Kotwa police inspector Vijay Sinha said that the villagers told him that the accident took place while the bus driver attempted to save a two-wheeler.
“The bus went off the road and turned turtle and before anyone could react the it burst into flames…only five passengers could be rescued,” said the officer.
State relief
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed officials to provide free medical facilities to those injured in the accident and financial help to the family members of the victims from the Chief Minister’s relief fund.
Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav and State deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi also expressed their grief over the incident.
