At least 12 people were killed and more than 14 injured when their bus fell into a 10-metre deep quarry in India’s central state of Chhattisgarh.
The accident took place in the state’s hilly Durg district late on Tuesday as the bus was taking employees of a private distillery home from work.
The bus was carrying 30 passengers when it skidded off the road and fell into the quarry pit. Three of the deceased were women, district police official Jitendra Shukla said.
The quarry was used for extracting a type of soil known locally as “murum” that is used for construction.
Television footage showed rescuers working to free passengers from the overturned bus. Ten of the survivors are in critical condition, authorities said.
“Of the 14 injured, 12 have been taken to All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur, while two others are undergoing treatment at a hospital here,” Richa Prakash Choudhary, Durg district’s senior administrative officer, told reporters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims in a post on X.
“The bus accident in Durg, Chhattisgarh, is extremely sad. My condolences to those who lost their loved ones in this. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Mr Modi said.
“Under the supervision of the state government, the local administration is engaged in helping the victims in every possible way.”
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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