40 Feared Dead As Bus Falls into River in Northern India

40 feared dead as bus falls into river in northern India

PATNA, India, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) — At least 40 people were feared drowned when an over-crowded mini passenger bus fell into the Ganga river in north Indian state Bihar early Saturday, a local official said.

The bus was heading to Patna, state capital of Bihar, from the neighboring city Hajipur when it lost balance and jumped into the swirling Ganga river after hitting railings of the bridge, said Sub- Divisional Magistrate Vaishali B K Sinha.

The exact number of passengers on the bus is yet to be determined, however, an average 30 to 40 people might have been boarding it, he said.

Rescue operation is underway and some divers have been pressed into service to fish out the bodies, the local police said.

Only a couple of weeks ago, some 40 people were drowned in the same Ganga river when an over-crowded boat capsized.

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