21 dead as bus collides with truck in Madhya Pradesh

Khandwa: At least twenty-one persons, including four women, were today killed and 17 others were injured when the bus in which they were travelling collided with a truck near Choti Chhaegaon Makhan area here.

The incident occurred when the ill fated private bus, carrying 38 passengers, collided head-on with a truck on Khandwa-Indore road, Khandwa Superintendent of police M S Sikarwar said.

The bus was on its way to Khandwa from Indore while the truck was heading towards Indore, the SP said, adding, at the time of the collision both the vehicles were moving at a high speed.

The injured were rushed to the district hospital. Sikarwar and District collector Mahesh Agrawal reached the hospital soon after the mishap.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1.5 lakh to the kin of the victims and Rs 50,000 to the injured ones.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Narendra Modi tonight expressed grief over the loss of lives in an accident in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa district.

"PM extends his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased & prays for the speedy recovery of the injured," the PMO said in a tweet.

A probe has been initiated in this matter.