At least 35 people were killed in an accident in Madhubani district of Bihar on Monday when a bus fell into a pond near Basaith village.
According to reports, the private operator carried around 50 people when it fell into Sundar Kund at about 12:30pm. The travellers were heading to Sitamarhi from Madhubani.
Benipatti BDO Abhay Kumar said that four people were taken out of the pond alive and were immediately rushed to the hospital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident and said: "Deeply saddened by the bus accident in Bihar's Madhubani district. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief."
The Bihar government announced a compensation amount of Rs 4 lakh for the kin of the deceased in the accident.
"We immediately need a crane to take out the bus. We are unable to do much to save the people trapped inside the bus," Kumar was quoted as saying by the Times of India.
The BDO was present at the spot and was overseeing the rescue operation. "The bus is not visible. It is completely submerged in water and with passage of time, the chances of survival of the passengers were almost nil," Kumar added.
"A crane has left from Darbhanga to help the local administration in Madhubani in rescue operations," Madhubani SP Deepak Barnwal said.
