Madhya Pradesh: 13 killed in auto rickshaw-bus collision
Twelve women and a man were killed after the auto-rickshaw carrying them collided with a speeding bus in the Old Chawni area of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday morning. The accident occurred around 5:30 am. The women were cooks at an Anganwadi Kendra in the Stone Park area under Old Chawni Ganga Malanpur locality. They were returning home after work.
Bus driver escaped from the scene of the accident
While eight women and the auto-rickshaw driver died on the spot, the others succumbed to injuries at a hospital, district SP Amit Sanghi said. Passengers traveling in the bus escaped unhurt. The driver of the bus fled the spot leaving behind the vehicle, which has been seized. The bus was on its way to Morena from Gwalior when the accident occurred.
The women were supposed to travel in two auto-rickshaws
The collector said, "The women were to travel in two auto-rickshaws but one of them developed a snag at the last moment and they traveled in one auto-rickshaw, which met with the accident." The circumstances and the exact cause of the accident are under investigation.
Regional Transport Officer of Gwalior suspended
Madhya Pradesh energy minister Pradyumna Singh Tomar reached the spot soon after the accident. No injuries were caused to the bus passengers, he said. The victims were residents of the Gole ka Mandir and Jaderua area in Gwalior. Meanwhile, the Regional Transport Officer (RTO) of Gwalior, MPS Chouhan, has been suspended by the state government, an official said.
Kin of victims will get ex-gratia of Rs. four lakh
Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced an ex-gratia of Rs. four lakh each to the kin of the victims. Rajya Sabha MP Jyotiraditya Scindia and Madhya Pradesh Congress President Kamal Nath expressed condolences. The deceased have been identified as Rachna Rathore, Sarita Rathore, Anita, Asha Rathore, Rajendri, Usha Jatav, Usha, Maya Devi, Harbobai, Munni Pal, Guddi, Laksmi, and Dharmendra Parihar, the auto driver.
