At least 50 people were feared dead after a bus fell into a pond in Bihar’s Madhubani district on Monday. The accident took place near Basakha Chowk in Benapatti area, about 250 km from state capital Patna.
The bus of a private operator was carrying at least 50 people when it fell into Sundar Kund at around 12.30pm while going to Sitamarhi from Madhubani.
Benipatti BDO Abhay Kumar said that four people were taken out alive from the bus who were immediately rushed to the hospital.
Eyewitnesses said about 55 passengers were in the bus. The overspeeding bus fell into the pond and got immersed in the water. After an hour, the district officials reached the spot and started rescue operations, said Dy. Superintendent of Police Ms Nirmala Kumari.
Eyewitnesses said the driver lost control and the bus plunged into the pond, which is approximately 25 feet deep.
Efforts were on to pull the bus out of the pond.
Locals alleged that the administration was late in starting the rescue operations. Villagers resorted to heavy brickbating that hampered relief operations.
“We immediately need a crane to take out the bus. We are unable to do much to save the people trapped inside the bus,” said BDO present at the spot for rescue operations. He said that the situation was not good.
“The bus is not visible. It is completely submerged in water and with passage of time; the chances of survival of the passengers were almost nil. Local people and divers were putting efforts to rescue people,” he said.
