A tragic incident occurred in Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday, where a passenger bus fell off a bridge, resulting in the death of at least 22 people, including three children and 10 women. The accident also left 31 others injured. The bus was reportedly heading towards Indore when it fell off the Broadorad River bridge near Dongargaon, around 34 km away from the district headquarters.
According to the Sub-Divisional Officer (police) of Khargone, Rakesh Mohan Shukla, the bus broke through the railing of the bridge and fell off. The driver of the bus has not been traced as yet, but preliminary information suggests that he might have fallen asleep, leading to the loss of control of the vehicle. It was the villagers who pushed it back on its wheels and rescued the injured passengers before the police arrived at the scene.
District collector Shivraj Singh Verma, superintendent of police DS Yadav, and other officers have reached the spot to oversee the rescue work. The Madhya Pradesh government has announced immediate financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased, Rs 50,000 each to the seriously injured, and Rs 25,000 each to those who received minor injuries in the accident.
The incident is a stark reminder of the importance of road safety and the need for strict regulations to prevent such accidents from happening. While the cause of the accident has not been fully established, it is clear that the driver of the bus was either negligent or overworked, which could have led to the fatal outcome.
It is also commendable that the villagers of the area played an active role in rescuing the passengers and providing immediate assistance, even before the authorities arrived at the scene. Such community spirit and solidarity are essential in times of crisis and help to mitigate the impact of disasters.
The government’s swift response in providing financial aid to the affected families and the injured passengers is also noteworthy. Such assistance can go a long way in helping the families cope with the loss of their loved ones and the injured passengers to recover from their injuries.