Betul: 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 of Friday. This has been confirmed by Betul SP Simala Prasad. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over loss of lives in Betul where 11 people died in a bus collision. He has also announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia to next of kin of deceased
The accident occurred on Bhainsdehi road, about 36 km from the district headquarters, said Shivraj Singh Thakur, Assistant Sub Inspector of Betul police control room.
"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 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 added. (with agency input)
