Little hope of retrieving bus mishap victims's bodies

It is an endless wait for the relatives of Wednesday's bus mishap victims on the outskirts of Giridih Mica township as hopes of retrieving the bodies from the swollen Usri river are remote despite hectic efforts.

Officials on the spot could not confirm the exact number of casualties as all efforts to locate bodies inside the bus, which fell into the river after crashing through the railings of Bardangana bridge, have failed.

While 80 people are feared killed, only four bodies could be fished out from the river on Tuesday night.

The river is in spate following incessant rainfall in Giridih district during the past two days. The water level is so high that the ill-fated bus was swept one km away from the accident spot.

Eyewitnesses said the bridge was submerged in the river water when the overcrowded bus tried to pass through. This did not deter the overambitious driver from crossing the river, shouting "Jai Bajrang Bali."

Officials said movement of heavy vehicles on the bridge was prohibited in 1980, when it was declared unsafe. However, as this was the only route connecting Giridih with Dumka, all vehicles passed through it.

UNI