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29 dead as bus falls into drain in Uttar Pradesh


Published : 08 Jul 2019 08:27 PM | Updated : 04 Sep 2020 06:13 AM

Twenty nine people were killed and 18 injured as a state-run bus skidded off the six-lane Yamuna Expressway and fell into a large overflowing drain in Uttar Pradesh on Monday, officials said. The bus was going from Lucknow to Delhi and had at least 50 passengers on board and the accident took place near Agra, they said.

"As per the district magistrate (of Agra) 29 persons have died. The bus fell into a 'nullah' (drain)," Additional Chief Secretary (Information) of Uttar Pradesh Awanish Awasthi said. "One sleeper coach passenger bus travelling from Lucknow to Delhi met with an accident on Yamuna Expressway (sic)," the Uttar Pradesh Police said on Twitter.

The officials said the bus fell from a bridge and into an overflowing drain near Etmadpur. The gushing water is making it difficult to conduct rescue operations, they said. The 165-km Yamuna Expressway connects Noida near Delhi 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. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condoled the death of the 29 passengers.

Adityanath has ordered an inquiry by a committee comprising Transport Commissioner, Divisional Commissioner and Inspector General of Police of Agra Range to investigate the cause of the accident, Additional Chief Secretary, Information, Awanish Awasthi said. The committee will submit its report in 24 hours as also recommend measures to avoid such incidents in the future, he said.