25 killed as bus plunges into canal in Mandya
Mandya (Karnataka): At least 25 people drowned on Saturday when a private bus they were travelling in plunged into a canal in Karnataka’s Mandya district, police said.
“The mishap occurred around noon at Kanaganamaradi village near Pandavapura town, as the bus skidded off the bridge and fell into the Cauvery river canal,” a Mandya police control room official told IANS on phone.
“Divers retrieved the bodies of 25 passengers from the bus before it was fished out of the canal. A rescue operation is underway to search for the remaining victims,” the official said.
The accident spot is about 120 km from Bengaluru on the state highway towards Mysuru after Mandya town.
According to a witness, the speeding bus was on way to Mandya from Pandavapura when the driver apparently lost control of the wheel, resulting in the bus veering off the bridge and falling into the 20-feet deep canal.
Vehicular traffic on the state highway was disrupted and rescue work affected, as hundreds of people from the surrounding areas thronged the mishap spot to see the bus plunged into the canal.
A few students were among the victims as they were returning home from schools and colleges which had a half-day being Saturday.
State Transport Minister D.C. Thammanna and district in-charge C.S. Puttarajau have rushed to the accident spot with district Deputy Commissioner N. Manjushri and district Superintendent of Police S.P. Devaraj.
Modi, Rahul condoles Karnataka bus tragedy victims
Bhopal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday condoled the death of about 25 people, who drowned after the bus they were travelling in plunged into a canal in Karnataka’s Mandya district.
“Deeply pained by the bus accident in Karnataka’s Mandya. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased. May God give them strength in this hour of sadness,” the Prime Minister said.
The Congress chief also condoled the deaths and preyed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
“I’m sorry to hear about the terrible bus accident in Mandya district of Karnataka in which over 20 people are feared dead and many others injured.
“I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Gandhi tweeted.
The accident took place at around noon at Kanaganamaradi village near Pandavapura town, as the bus skidded off the bridge and fell into the Cauvery river canal.
15 killed as bus plunges into canal in Karnataka
Mandya (Karnataka): At least 15 people drowned on Saturday when a private bus they were travelling in plunged into a canal in Karnataka’s Mandya district, police said.
“At least 15 people have drowned as the private bus fell into a canal at 11.30 a.m. at Pandavapura. Prima facie, the accident seems to have occurred due to the driver’s negligence,” a police officer from the office of Mandya Superintendent of Police (SP) told IANS.
“Over 30 people were travelling in the bus, which also had several school children,” he added.
District officials along with locals were still recovering bodies from the canal.
Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy directed the district officials and in-charge Minister C.S. Puttaraju to monitor the rescue operations.