Madhya Pradesh: 11, including two children, dead as SUV rams into bus in Betul

Betul road accident: Eleven persons, including two children, were killed after the sports utility vehicle (SUV) they were travelling in collided with an empty bus at Jhallar in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh in the wee hours on Friday (November 4), police said.

The accident occurred on Bhainsdehi road, about 36 km from the district headquarters, Betul police control room assistant sub inspector Shivraj Singh Thakur told media.

"Six men, three women, a girl aged around five years, and a toddler died on the spot in the accident that took place around 2:00 am," he said.

According to police, the deceased were labourers, who were returning home here from Amravati in neighbouring Maharashtra.

The severity of the accident was such that the bodies of some of the victims had to be from the mangled remains of the SUV with the help of gas cutters, Thakur said. The bodies were later sent for post-mortem.

Primary investigation suggests that the SUV rammed into the bus after its driver dozed off, police said. Police have registered a case and probe is underway, Thakur said. 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief at the loss of lives in an accident in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh. He also announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for the injured.

In a tweet quoting Modi, his office said, "Pained by the loss of lives due to an accident in Betul, MP. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. An ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. Rs 50,000 would be given to the injured."

(With PTI inputs) 

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