Bihar Bus Accident: 27 burnt to death, several injured as bus catches fire in Motihari; rescue operations underway

In a major tragic bus accident in Bihar's Motihari on Thursday, at least 27 passengers were burnt to death, leaving several injured as bus catches fire after the accident. According to an update by news agency ANI, the bus turned turtle and caught fire. The agency said locals have started rescue operations, but the death toll is still expected to rise.

The state disaster management minister Dinesh Chandra Yadav said that the East Champaran DM has informed him about 27 deaths in the accident. Kotwa police station SHO Vijay Sinha, when asked, told TOI that only four persons could be rescued from the ill-fated bus.

“They all were injured and were rushed to Sadar hospital for treatment. They also have received burn injuries,” the SHO said.

The SHO, quoting villagers and some eyewitnesses, said that the bus was of a private operator and the accident took place while the driver attempted to save a two-wheeler. “The bus went off the road and turned turtle. Before anyone could react and people could gather to rescue the trapped passengers, the bus busted into flames which engulfed it immediately barring people to go nearby for rescue work,” the SHO said.

The bus was reportedly carrying altogether 32 passengers, mostly from Muzaffarpur to Delhi. The news report further states that the accident happened near Kotwa police station on National Highway 28 in Motihari district. Further details on the story are awaited.

ANI tweeted about the incident and wrote, "#SpotVisuals: Total 27 people have died due to fire in a bus, after it overturned, in Bihar's Motihari."