People stand nearby the damaged bus on the outskirts of Agra district, Uttar Pradesh, India, on July 8, 2019. The death toll in Monday morning's bus mishap in north India has risen to 29, while 18 people were injured, government sources confirmed. The mishap occurred when a passengers bus heading towards Delhi from Lucknow, the capital city of northern state of Uttar Pradesh, fell in an around 50-feet deep drain in the wee hours of Monday in Agra district of Uttar Pradesh. (Str/Xinhua)
NEW DELHI, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in Monday morning's bus mishap in north India has risen to 29, while 18 people were injured, government sources confirmed.
The mishap occurred when a passengers bus heading towards Delhi from Lucknow, the capital city of northern state of Uttar Pradesh, fell in an around 50-feet deep drain in the wee hours of Monday in Agra district of Uttar Pradesh.
The ill-fated bus belonged to the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives. In a statement, he said: "Pained by the bus accident in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. I pray that those injured recover fast. The state government and local administration are providing all possible assistance to the affected."
The relief and rescue work has been completed at the accident site.
State's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a financial assistance of 500,000 Indian Rupees (around 7,143 U.S. dollars) to the kin of those killed in the mishap.
According to preliminary reports, the mishap occurred as the bus driver dozed off. The state chief minister tweeted that he has constituted a three-member team to look into the cause of the accident, and ensure that such mishaps do not occur in future.
