In a road accident, 10 persons lost their life, including three women and a six-year-old girl, when a passenger bus crashed into railing of a small over bridge near Korba.
The accident took place at village Madanpur on Badni nullah main road, about 100km from Vishrampur. According to eyewitnesses, the impact of the accident was so strong that some of the passengers fell out of the bus, into a canal after breaking the windscreen, about 30 feet down in water, resulting in their death.
More than 30 persons were also said to be injured in the accident.
The bus belongs to Hindustan bus service and was heading to Korba from Surajpur district.
The bus driver, who was said to be under the influence of alcohol and fled after the accident.
The bus was running at a very high speed, said the eyewitness and added that it made a huge noise when crashed. The front, left side, of the bus remained hanging in air and passengers sitting in the front fell after breaking the windscreen.
Deceased were identified as Shanti Bai Gond, Baliram, Aleshwar Yadav, Parvati Sahu, Muskan Sahu, Chanda Sahu, Sukhlal, Mahaveer Yadav, Pushata and Nirmal Khunte.
Police said that the bodies were sent for autopsy.
Chief Minister Raman Singh expressed condolence and ordered Korba district administration to assist those injured.
