MP: At least 39 person dies after bus fell off bridge into canal

At least 39 people, including 16 women, died after the bus they were travelling in fell off a bridge into a canal near Patna village in Madhya Pradesh's Sidhi district on Tuesday morning, a senior official said, adding that search operations are still going on.

Reports suggest that around 50 passengers were onboard the ill-fated bus that was en route from Sidhi to Satna. 

At least seven persons swam to safety, said Umesh Joga, Inspector General (Rewa zone).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs each from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the bus accident in Sidhi. As per the Prime Minister's Office, Rs 50,000 will be given to the injured.

"It is an unfortunate incident. CM has been taking a minute to minute detail of the accident since morning. Two of us are going to Sidhi as per his instructions. I spoke to concerned officers..," Silawat told news agency ANI.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has expressed anguish over the incident and announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased.

Earlier in the morning, Inspector General (Rewa zone) Joga had confirmed the recovery of 18 bodies from the accident site.

The bus landed into the canal near Patna village, around 80 kms away from the Sidhi district headquarter, around 8:30 AM.