MP bus accident: Death toll mounts to 39; rescue operation underway
The bus sank completely into the water and was not visible in the morning hours. Later, the district administration stopped the release of water into the canal from the Banganga project, which brought the water level down.
BusinessToday.In | February 16, 2021 | Updated 14:49 IST
A bus, carrying around 54 passengers, fell into a canal in Sidhi after the driver lost control over it.
At least 39 people have died and seven have been rescued after a bus fell off a bridge into a canal near Patna village in Madhya Pradesh s Sidhi district on Tuesday. The bus was going from Sidhi to Satna, carrying around 57 passengers. It fell into the canal after the driver lost control over it.
Eight people were hurt in the terrifying incident, which happened around 11:10 p.m. Thursday.
Authorities say the 55-year-old driver was attempting to turn left off University Avenue onto a ramp to the Washington Bridge when the Bx35 bus suddenly veered off the road.
The MTA said the GPS revealed the bus appeared to be traveling at 17-26 mph during the incident.
Transit officials held a briefing Friday to discuss the incident. We know the speed limit on the road is 25 mph, but the appropriate speed for taking a turn such as this is between 3 and 4 miles per hour, MTA Chief Safety Officer Pat Warren said. So we can say at this time while the investigation is ongoing, speed is clearly a factor and is obviously of great concern to us.