Bus accident: Last minute route change; bravery by one family
A last-minute route diversion due to a heavy traffic jam proved fatal for most passengers of a private bus in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday even as tales of bravery and the human instinct to help those in distress emerged from the tragedy. At least 45 passengers, including 20 women, were killed in the accident which took place in the morning.
Five members of a local family rescued seven passengers
Showing immense courage, five members of a local family, including a girl named Shivrani Lonia and her brother - all aged between 16 and 22 years - saved seven passengers but one of them died later during treatment. "I saw the speeding bus coming from there (pointing toward a direction) and it plunged into the canal after skidding off the road," Shivrani told reporters.
Shivrani and others showed exemplary courage
"I along with my brother jumped into the canal water and saved two persons," she said. District Collector Ravindra Kumar Choudhary said, "Shivrani, her brother Lavkush and three others rescued seven persons from the ill-fated bus." Choudhary said they took them out of the water after jumping into the canal even though they are not professional swimmers, but knew swimming.
Madhya Pradesh CM also praised Shivrani's bravery
Meanwhile, several people, including Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, praised Shivrani's bravery. "I salute the courage shown by daughter Shivrani. Not caring for her life, this daughter saved the lives of two passengers by jumping into the canal in Sidhi. I thank the daughter. The entire state is proud of you," the CM said in Bhopal.
Driver fled as soon as the bus fell into canal
Recalling the incident, a survivor said, "Passengers unsuccessfully tried to break the windows of the ill-fated bus, carrying over 55 people, including students, when it rolled down into a canal after skidding off the road near a village in Sidhi district." The bus was speeding and the driver fled as soon as the bus fell into the canal.
People tried to break window panes to save themselves
"The bus got filled with water and people frantically tried to break the window panes to save themselves but failed," said Vibha Prajapati, who was going to Satna to appear in an examination for ANM (Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery). Prajapati informed the bus was carrying 30-35 students due to appear for the ANM examination.
Prajapati doesn't know where her brother is
Prajapati, with tears rolling down her cheeks, told reporters she tried to save her brother, who was traveling with her in the bus, but does not where he is now. "I brought my brother half-way but he was left behind. Nobody is searching for him," she said. A senior official said the accident took place near Patna village, around 80km from the Sidhi district headquarters.
Bus was overcrowded and 15-20 passengers were standing
Prajapati said the bus was overcrowded and at least 15-20 passengers were standing and three persons were sitting on some of the seats meant for two. "There must have been at least 55 passengers in the bus," she said. "Some people got off at Churhat (a town between Sidhi and Satna) because there was no seat for them in the bus," Prajapati said.
Heavy traffic at Chhuhiya Ghati led to the route change
Sources said that the ill-fated bus took the new route via Patna village after diverting from its regular route passing through the Chhuhiya Ghati. "There was a heavy traffic jam at the Chhuhiya Ghati, which falls between Sidhi and Govindgarh town on way to Satna, leading to the route change," the sources said.