20 Dead as Jeep Plunges into Ditch Near Patna
Patna: Aug. 15, 2008
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20 Dead as Jeep Plunges into Ditch
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Photo by Anupam Singh |
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Twenty people, including ten women and nine children, were killed when an overloaded, oversized jeep returning from a wedding event on late Monday night fell into an overflowing drainage in Agam Kuan at the eastern end of the state capital entrapping many occupants under the bus.
The driver of the bus, possibly due to dangerous road conditions caused by recent rain in the region, lost control of the jeep and drove the vehicle into the rain-water filled canal drowning many passengers in it, City Superintendent of Police Anwar Hussain said.
The victims belonged to Manhgupur village in Phulwarisharif and were returning to their homes after attending a wedding in Alamganj, officials said.
Rescuers were able to pull out 20 bodies from the water-filled drainage while they search for other victims.
At least 5 persons managed to walk away from the wreck unscathed or with light injuries, villagers said.
The state government has ordered a probe into the accident and has pledged to provide Rs. 1 lakh to the family of each victim, reports said.
Union Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, who is in Patna these days to prepare for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, met with the victims at the Nalanda Medical College and Hospital where bodies were transported for post mortems.
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