No death in bus mishap in East Champaran in Bihar: Dist administration

The East Champaran district administration in Bihar today made it clear that no one was killed when a Delhi-bound bus fell into a 20-feet deep pit and burst into flames, saying all those on board have been accounted for.

Shortly after the accident at 5 pm yesterday, state Disaster Management Minister Dinesh Chandra Yadav had said that there was apprehension of more than 20 people having been killed.

In a tweet a couple of hours later, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi had said the casualty figure might go up to 24 or more.

East Champaran District Magistrate Raman Kumar today said that no one died in the accident and that a total of 13 passengers, who had boarded the bus from its starting point Muzaffarpur, were undergoing treatment for injuries.

 

Secretary State Disaster Management department Pratyay Amrit also said no one was killed in the mishap that occurred on National Highway 28, about 30 km from Motihari town and over 120 km from here.

"All the 13 passengers have been identified. They have sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment," the district magistrate told PTI over phone.

"Bus driver Vijendra Kumar and helper Ratan are missing. But detailed investigations have been conducted by forensic experts and personnel of the disaster management department at the site of the mishap and it is unlikely that either of them has died," he added.

Inspector General of Police, Muzaffarpur Zone, Sunil Kumar said that the survivors were identified on the basis of inputs provided by Saroj Singh, booking agent of the bus operator who was yesterday questioned by the police and later released.

The district magistrate said, "We have lodged an FIR in connection with the accident, naming both the driver and the helper who apparently fled. Their details have been obtained and they are likely to be traced soon,."

The bus had skidded off NH-28 in Belwa village under Kotwa police station area. Locals claimed that the driver had taken a sharp turn on the highway while trying to avoid hitting a motorcycle after which the air-conditioned bus fell into the pit and burst into flames.

National Highway 28 connects Barauni in Bihar with Lucknow.

Altogether 32 persons had booked their seats on the bus. While 13 people boarded it at Muzaffarpur, the others were scheduled get on later at Gopalganj.