Four dead in bus accident

Four persons, including two children died and 16 were injured when a Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation bus plunged into a pond of chemical effluents near Vadodara on Tuesday.

The bus, carrying 55 passengers, skid off the road and plunged into the pond while trying to save a cyclist, eyewitnesses said.

"The passengers died after drowning in the pond of chemical effluents. We have not observed signs of fatal injuries on the dead bodies. We are yet to receive post mortem reports," said Ajay Mishra, superintendent, Community Health Center, Padra in Vadodara district.

The incident took place near Mojpur village at about noon, when a bus from Bhadalpur to Borsad village was heading towards Padra.

While attempting to save a cyclist, the bus driver lost control and the bus plunged into the pond of contaminated water that is allegedly being released by the chemical industrial units located nearby.

Injured passengers have been transferred to a local health center in Padra and Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad general hospital in Vadodara.

Poonam Parmar, MP of Padra, said: "Farmers surrounding the canal managed by Effluent Channel Project (ECPL) lift water for irrigation purpose. The water in the pond proved fatal. There are also doubts that certain companies are dumping their polluted water to the tank, added Parmar.

The area around Padra has number of chemical and plastic industrial units. No officials of ECPL were available for comments. The Vadodara rural police are investigating the case.