Bus tragedy: toll rises to 44

The death toll in the bus tragedy of Murshidabad district mounted to 44 today, after rescue workers fished out the body of another passenger of the vehicle that broke the railing of a bridge and fell into a canal on January 29, police said.
Search operation has been stopped after recovery of the male body today as there is no more report of anyone missing that could be related to the bus accident, a senior district administration official said.
Bodies of 36 passengers were found from the Gogra canal at Balirghat area of the district on the day of the early morning accident. While six bodies were fished out on Tuesday, one more body were found yesterday.

Eight persons were injured in the accident and they are undergoing treatment at the Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital.
The state government has handed over the compensation package of Rs five lakh to the next of kin of each of those killed and Rs one lakh for those gravely injured. Other injured would get a compensation of Rs 50,000.