A tragic incident occurred in Chhattisgarh's Durg district on Tuesday night, resulting in the loss of at least 12 lives and injuring 14 others. The victims were all employees of a private firm, traveling back home from work when the bus they were on fell into a 'murum' soil mine pit near Khapri village under Kumhari Police Station limits.
The accident happened around 8.30 pm, as the bus carrying over 30 passengers skidded off the road and plunged into the 40-feet-deep 'murum' mine. Despite the initial death toll confirmation of 15 by Durg Superintendent of Police Jitendra Shukla, it was later clarified that 12 individuals, including three women, lost their lives in the tragic event.
'Murum' soil, commonly used for construction purposes, lined the pit where the bus landed. Promptly, a police team, along with the State Disaster Response Force and local volunteers, launched a rescue operation upon receiving the alert.
Durg Collector Richa Prakash Choudhary informed the media about the magisterial probe initiated into the incident. She revealed that the deceased were employees of Kediya Distilleries in Kumhari and that 14 injured individuals were receiving treatment, with 12 of them transferred to All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Raipur, while two remained at a local hospital.
The company extended compensation to the victims, supplemented by administrative support. Choudhary assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted, promising accountability for those responsible.
Visuals from the scene depicted the overturned bus amidst darkness, showcasing the challenges faced by rescuers. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed their condolences, emphasizing efforts towards speedy recovery and assistance to the affected.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai also mourned the accident, assuring adequate medical arrangements for the injured individuals.
