15 killed as bus turns turtle in West Bengal

Written By DNA Web Team | Updated: Aug 29, 2010, 07:13 PM IST

At least 15 people were killed and 20 others injured when a minibus carrying them overturned and fell into a pond at Dewanhat in Coochbehar district today.

At least 15 people were killed and 20 others injured when a minibus carrying them overturned and fell into a pond at Dewanhat in Coochbehar district today.
 
Fifteen bodies were brought out from the bus, while four of the injured were admitted to MJN Hospital.
 
While nine bodies were taken to the morgue at MJN Hospital, Coochbehar, two others were taken to Dinhata sub-divisional hospital for postmortem, police said.
 
Locals initially did not allow the other four bodies to be taken for postmortem, demanding senior officials visit the site and supervise rescue work but later relented.
 
Fire brigade and police personnel joined them in rescue work after a crane was brought to the spot to haul up the partly submerged vehicle.
 
The dead included a school girl studying in class IX, some locals said.
 
Eyewitnesses said the mishap occurred as one of the front tyres of the minibus, travelling from Coochbehar town to Dinhata, suddenly burst.
 
Locals protested at Dinhata hospital against alleged delay in arrival of fire brigade and police at the spot.
 
Traffic movement along Dinhata-Coochbehar highway was stalled for several hours following the accident.