Tragedy struck in Durg, Chhattisgarh, as a bus transporting 50 employees from Kedia Distillery, bound for Bhilai, met with a calamitous accident on Tuesday evening. Thirteen lives were tragically lost, with fifteen others sustaining injuries in the harrowing incident that occurred around 9 pm. Promptly upon receiving word of the mishap, swift response teams comprising the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and law enforcement officials mobilized to the scene, initiating immediate rescue efforts.
Initial reports from authorities indicated that the ill-fated bus, en route from Kedia Distillery towards Raipur Kumhari Road, veered off its course, plummeting approximately 50 feet into a Murum mine crater near the jurisdiction of Kumhari police station. Without delay, law enforcement and administrative personnel swiftly converged on the scene, orchestrating a multi-faceted rescue operation that involved the deployment of two cranes to extricate trapped individuals and facilitate their safe evacuation.
In the aftermath of this tragic event, President Droupadi Murmu conveyed her heartfelt condolences via the social media platform X, lamenting the loss of lives and extending sympathies to the grieving families. “I am deeply grieved by the unfortunate bus accident in Durg district, Chhattisgarh,” she expressed. “My profound condolences to all those who have been affected by this tragedy, and my thoughts are with the injured, whom I wish a swift recovery.”
Similarly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow on platform X, describing the incident in Durg as deeply distressing. “The recent bus accident in Durg, Chhattisgarh, is a source of immense sorrow,” he articulated. “My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones, and I pray for the speedy recuperation of the injured. I commend the state government and local authorities for their diligent efforts in providing assistance to the victims during this trying time.”
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai conveyed his anguish over the tragedy, remarking, “It is with deep sorrow that I learned of the untimely demise of employees from a private company in a bus accident. My prayers are with the departed souls, and I extend my heartfelt wishes for strength and solace to the bereaved families.”
On a separate note, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma divulged details regarding the circumstances of the accident, elucidating that the ill-fated bus was ferrying employees homeward after their shift. He disclosed the presence of treacherous mud pits, measuring 20–20 feet, along the route, noting that hospital personnel had indicated the routine use of this route by commuters for the past two decades. However, investigations into the incident are currently underway, Sharma disclosed.