Thirteen people were killed and at least 30 passengers injured when a bus overturned on the Burdwan-Katwa road, near here today.
The mishap occurred when the bus driver, while trying to overtake two other buses, lost control of the vehicle, at Dewandighi area, about two km from Burdwan town, police said.
The bus was carrying about 70 passengers who were travelling to Mayapur in Nadia district, police said, adding, the other two buses also carried people of the same Khudkuri village.
Upon hearing cries for help, locals rushed to the area and tried to rescue the trapped passengers by pulling the overturned bus with the help of tractors. The villagers and the police rushed the injured to Burdwan Medical College and Hospital.
While 10 passengers were declared 'brought dead' at the hospital, three passengers later succumbed to injuries, according to a bulletin issued by the state-run hospital.
Among the victims were two children, it said.
The condition of three of the injured patients was very serious, the bulletin said.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has directed District Magistrate to pay Rs two lakh as compensation to the next of the kin of the victims, state minister Swapan Debnath told reporters at the hospital.
The chief minister also announced that the state government will bear the cost of treatment of the injured and the cremation of the victims, the minister said.
The driver is absconding after the accident, police official said.
