19 die as bus plunges into river in UP town

At least 19 people, including 11children and four women, were killed and 14 critically injured on Monday, when a bus with 33 persons aboard plunged into a river in Dibai town of Bulandshahr district, about 400 km from Lucknow.

According to a local police official,"The accident took place along the bridge of the Choiya river in Dibai town. The bus fell into the river from a height of around 25 feet, leaving at least 14 persons dead on the spot. Five others succumbed to their injuries in the hospital "

"While 14 bodies were recovered from the site of the mishap, five died in the hospital, while the remaining 14 were undergoing treatment but still not out of danger," Deputy Superintendent of Police J R Joshi told rediff.com over telephone from Bulandshahr.

The victims were described as construction labourers, who were on their way from their workplace in Ghaziabad to their native village in Bulandshahr to cast their vote for the on-going village level elections.

Construction labourers in India usually carry their children to the sites where they are engaged.

The victims included 11 children (in the age group of one month to 15 years), four men and four women.

The official maintained, "Other than the fact the driver lost control over the vehicle which plunged into the river, it was still not clear what led to the accident, but a magisterial probe has been ordered to go into various aspects of the mishap."