Twenty-five people were killed after a bus fell into a canal in Karnataka’s Mandya district today afternoon.
The accident occured after the driver lost control. Many passengers could not escape from the bus, the doors were trapped on the floor of the canal. The bus soon submerged. Authorities believe that the death toll could rise to 30-35.
Luckily the driver managed to come out of the bus and swim to safety. Farmers working in nearby fields started rescue work immediately and saved a few passengers.
Locals used ropes to try and pull the bus out of the water. The bodies of the victims were pulled out.
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy will inspect the site later today. The CM ordered the minister in charge of Mandya and the Deputy Commissioner to reach the site and oversee the rescue operations. The CM cancelled all his appointments scheduled for the evening.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths.
This is a second such bus incident this week in India. Click here to read more about the bus incident that occurred on Mahanadi Bridge.
The Chief Minister of Karnataka reached the site, he met the victims families. CM HD Kumaraswamy announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased
Here are a few pictures.
UPDATED 4:31 PM IST