Around 20 people were feared killed after a bus collided with a truck and caught fire in Kannauj district of Uttar Pradesh late on Friday, said police.
Twenty-one passengers escaped from the bus, and were rushed to hospital, District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar said.
Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation Managing Director Raj Shekhar said the vehicle was a private bus. “I have spoken to the District Magistrate, and he is on the spot. I have also asked the ARM to reach the spot and give correct information about the incident,” he said.
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Ten to 12 among the injured 21 jumped from the burning bus to save their lives, Kannauj Superintendent of Police Amrendra Prasad singh said, adding the exact number of casualties will be known only later. There were around 45 passengers in the bus which was on its way to Jaipur from Farrukhabad at the time of incident, police said.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has rushed his ministerial colleague Ram Naresh Agnihotri to the spot and sought a report from the DM Kannauj about the incident. The Chief Minister announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh to the next of kin of those who lost their lives and ₹50,000 to the injured. It is a very unfortunate incident, the CM said, extending his condolences to the bereaved families.
Kanpur’s range Inspector General of Police Mohit Agarwal said efforts are on to contact family members of the victims. The blaze has been controlled and rescue operations are on, Agarwal said.
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Uttar Pradesh police chief O.P. Singh in Lucknow said it appears that the diesel tank exploded under the impact of collision and the bus burst into flames.
(With inputs from PTI)