Kota, October 17 (TNA) Eight people were killed and several others injured after a mini-bus carrying more than 25 passengers fell into a water- and mud-filled drain on the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway in Kota district on Saturday morning, police said.
The accident occurred at around 6 am near Karadiya village in the Simliya police station area. The vehicle reportedly lost control near a bridge and plunged nearly 15 feet into the drain. According to preliminary information, the mini-bus was travelling from Bhopal to Khatushyamji in Rajasthan. Most of the deceased passengers were reportedly residents of Betul in Madhya Pradesh.
The bus was carrying more than 25 people when it fell into the drain. The presence of water and mud at the site made the rescue operation difficult, officials said. Police, local administration and emergency teams reached the spot soon after the accident. A crane was used to pull the damaged vehicle out and rescue passengers trapped inside.
More than six injured passengers were taken to hospital for treatment. Several of them were reported to be in critical condition and were shifted to the intensive care unit, Kota District Collector Peeyush Samariya said.
Authorities said the identities of the deceased and injured passengers were being verified and their families were being informed. The bodies were sent for post-mortem examination.
The cause of the accident was not immediately clear. Police were examining whether the driver lost control because of speed, fatigue, road conditions or another factor. A case is expected to be registered after the initial investigation.