It has been reported that at least 21 people in India have died after a bus driver allegedly fell asleep at the wheel.
As reported by the Arabic channel Al Arabiya News, the incident occurred in the south of the central city of Indore in Madhya Pradesh state on May 9.
The outlet stated that the driver allegedly fell asleep before the vehicle slammed through a barrier and plunged about 20 feet onto a dry riverbed.
A senior police official said around 21 people died while a sub-divisional magistrate named Omnarayan Singh revealed that around 37 people are injured, according to Gulf News. Three children were among the dead, he added.
The publication stated that the bus driver allegedly escaped from the scene after the accident. They added that locals started rescue operations by rushing the injured to hospitals in tractors and trollies until ambulances arrived.
Narottam Mishra, the Madhya Pradesh Home Minister, revealed that he has ordered Khargone police and district administration to provide aid and assistance to those who sustained injuries in this horrific event.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi's office took to social media to express condolences to the victims and announced financial assistance from Modi's National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
"The road accident in Khargone is very sad. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this. Along with this, I wish speedy recovery of all the injured. Under the supervision of the state government, the local administration is providing all possible help on the spot," they tweeted, (translated from Hindi to English).
"An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased in the bus accident in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000," the office added in another tweet.
Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar also voiced sorrow over the casualties on social media, writing: "The loss of lives in a bus accident in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh is extremely tragic. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured."
While India only has 1% of the world's vehicles, the country accounts for 11% of the global road casualty, according to a World Bank report released in 2021, per Al Arabiya News. The report calculated that there are about 150,000 car crash deaths each year.
Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragedy.
