Motihari: At least 27 people were charred to death as the bus they were travelling in caught fire at Motihari in East Champaran district of Bihar Thursday.
The fire was reportedly caused after the bus overturned and fell into a roadside pit while the driver attempted to save a two-wheeler. According to reports, the bus was on its way to Delhi from Muzaffarpur.
The incident happened on national highway 28 near Moga Hotel in Kotwa area, over 75 km from the state capital, around 3 pm. The death toll is expected to rise. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed grief on the incident.
The driver of the bus, in which 32 passengers were travelling, lost control over the vehicle due to which it overturned. Only four persons could be rescued from the ill-fated bus, Kotwa police station SHO Vijay Sinha told reporters. He also informed that the injured have been rushed to Sadar Hospital for treatment.
Quoting some eye-witnesses, he claimed that the bus was that of a private operator. CM Nitish Kumar expressed condolence on the loss of lives in the accident. “It is a really painful incident. Local administration officials are present at the spot. We will extend all possible help to the families of those who died,” he said.
Rescue operations at the accident site were hampered due to heavy rains. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force teams rushed to the spot and the hospitals in Motihari and Muzaffarpur are put on alert.
Agencies
