At least 29 passengers were killed and 17 injured when a Delhi-bound UPSRTC Janrath bus fell into a water-filled nullah along the Yamuna Expressway in Agra, UP, early on Monday morning.
As many as 29 bodies were recovered, Agra District Magistrate N G Ravi Kumar said. There were 44 passengers in the Awadh Depot bus travelling from Lucknow to Delhi.
According to Agra SSP Babloo Kumar, the bus broke a railing and fell 50 feet into the Jharna nullah, which was overflowing, making the relief and rescue operation difficult.
The DM and SSP along, with several other senior officials, were on the spot supervising the rescue operation.
#UPDATE 29 persons dead after a bus carrying around 40 passengers fell into 'jharna nalla' on Yamuna Expressway in Agra. Rescue operation underway. pic.twitter.com/mAnY9pUsgX
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) July 8, 2019
“DGP UP OP Singh has directed to carry out relief & rescue work in full swing and is supervising it personally. All senior officers present at the spot (sic),” the state police tweeted.
The Janrath bus of the Uttar Pradesh Roadways’ Awadh Depot was going from Lucknow to the national capital’s Anand Vihar ISBT, officials said.
The 165-km six-lane expressway connects Noida with Agra in Uttar Pradesh.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences and has directed the Agra District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police to ensure the injured get proper medical treatment, the officials said.
He has asked his deputy Dinesh Sharma and Minister of State for Transport Swatantra Dev Singh to immediately visit the accident site.
The Chief Minister has formed a committee to probe the reasons behind the accident and directed it to submit a report, Additional Chief Secretary Information, Awanish Awasthi, said.
29 people killed and more a dozen injured after a UPTC bus fell into a 40feet gorge in #YamunaExpressway on Monday morning. pic.twitter.com/aV7S2fZ21R
— Sashank Chakraborty (@SashankGuw) July 8, 2019
The committee, comprising the Transport Commissioner, Divisional Commissioner and an Inspector General of Police, will investigate the incident in 24 hours, the Chief Minister has directed.
It will give a report on the cause of the accident and also suggest long-term measures to avoid such mishaps, Awasthi said.
One Sleeper Coach passenger bus travelling from Lucknow to Delhi met with an accident on Yamuna Expressway. It fell into the side fall about 15 feet deep.
— UP POLICE (@Uppolice) July 8, 2019
20 passengers rescued so far. Efforts are on for the rest.
IG Agra
The Uttar Pradesh Roadways will pay ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted that BJP state general secretary Pankaj Singh has gone to the spot.
“I convey my condolences and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured. I have spoken to CM Yogi Adityanath about it. He has sent Deputy CM Dinesh Sharma and Transport Minister Swatantra Dev Singh to the spot,” he said.
The cause of the accident was not immediately known.
The injured were admitted in different hospitals of Agra.