INDIA: At least 20 people killed and dozens injured after a bus plunges into the Ganges River near Patna

Record ID: 1372186

  • Title: INDIA: At least 20 people killed and dozens injured after a bus plunges into the Ganges River near Patna
  • Date: 11th May 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SHAMBHU RAI, AN EYEWITNESS, SAYING: "We heard the sound first and when we came out we saw that a vehicle had fallen here. We informed the police. Some people came out of it (damaged bus) by themselves. The administration and the army were here by morning and they started the rescue work. The public also helped. They were taken to hospitals in jeeps."
  • Embargoed: 26th May 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVABKI2LXAXF3WRHD8I6IAHI7FYM
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: At least 20 people killed and dozens injured in a bus accident in eastern India.
    At least 20 people were killed and 18 injured when a bus they were traveling skidded and fell into Ganges River in eastern India on Friday (May 11), an official said.
    Most of the passengers were asleep when the accident occurred at Hajipur near Patna city, the capital of Bihar state.
    "We heard the sound first and when we came out we saw that a vehicle had fallen here. We informed the police. Some people came out of it (damaged bus) by themselves. The administration and the army were here by morning and they started the rescue work. The public also helped. They were taken to hospitals in jeeps," said Shambhu Rai, an eyewitness
    About 35 passengers were travelling on the bus, which fell off the bridge into a dry area of the river.
    Vishwanath Baitha, an injured man said he was asleep when the accident took place.
    "We felt few jolts and then the vehicle fell down. I don't remember much as I was asleep when it happened. When I regained consciousness the vehicle was already down," he said.
    Officials said the injured have been admitted to hospitals in capital Patna and Hajipur.
    India has one of the worst traffic accident rates in the world.
    Road accidents are very common in India as drivers scantly follow traffic rules. Poor driving skills, with little or no regulatory mechanism to ensure that driving licenses are given on the strictest of conditions contribute significantly to the accident rate.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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