DIMAPUR, JAN 5 (NPN) (Staff Reporter): The death toll in Wednesday night’s bus accident rose to ten while the number of injured rose to 33, many of them in critical condition.
[caption id="attachment_6273" align="aligncenter" width="380" caption="Photo: Owen Mang Munluo via Facebook"]
[/caption]As reported in Nagaland Post on Thursday, the bus carrying passengers from Imphal to Shillong plunged down a deep gorge at around 9.45 p.m.(near Piphema) after it reportedly developed brake failure.
Sources said the Network Rajdhani bus(MN-01-1833), carrying over 40 passengers skidded off the road then rolled down a few hundred feet below and some trees prevented it from going down further before turning turtle.
Rescue team of Dimapur Traffic and Medziphema police rushed to the spot and on Wednesday night and retrieved three bodies.Several of the injured were rushed to Medziphema hospital while 16 were taken to Dimapur Civil Hospital by a CRPF ambulance.
Rescue efforts continued till early morning.
One of the injured passengers, S.L.Haothang(30) of the CRPF told Nagaland Post that the driver suddenly shouted “brake fail” and the next moment it plunged down the deep gorge.
Yaiphaba from Mayang Imphal said he was asleep on the last row when he suddenly felt a big shudder.When he woke up, Yaiphaba said the bus had turned turtle but he miraculously escaped with a minor cut on the head.
According to Traffic police sources, the cause of the fatal accident could have been “mechanical failure”.
Major rescue operations were conducted by Piphema youth organization, general council Piphema, Piphema women organization and 20 Assam Rifles (AR) ‘D’ Coy, according to Balie Angami, OC Traffic, Dimapur.
DSP Traffic I Rongsen said the timely and tireless help rendered by Phiphema villagers, AR and other volunteers saved many lives.
The mangled bus body was yet to be retrieved as more recovery vans were needed to hoist it up. Police said recovery would be done Friday at around 4 a.m. when traffic would be thin.
Traffic sources said an injured passenger said the driver of the bus managed to escape could not be confirmed. The bus owner was expected at Dimapur for investigation.
DSP Traffic Rongsen said the dead bodies were put in coffins provided by the Dimapur district administration and handed over to relatives to be taken to their respective native places.
Dimapur Traffic sources said one woman, who was seriously injured refused to be taken to hospital as she continued to search for her missing daughter. She later succumbed to her injuries even before reaching the hospital at Dimapur.
Two infants traveling with their aunty, miraculously escaped injuries.Another traumatized female child, who got separated from her father, was finally reunited with him at the Dimapur Civil Hospital Thursday.
Besides the district officials, Chumukedima town council advisors, Dimapur municipal council advisors, Dimapur Naga women hoho and Kuki welfare community Dimapur were also present at the hospital.
List of casualties
Police identified the dead as- Md. Bahao Uddin Mosa (M), s/o Md. Hesamuddin from Churapur Makha Leikai, Thoubal district; Thenching Kuki (F) of Songel village from Churachandpur district; L. Lhungkhojang (M) of Loiloi Phai from Churachandpur district; Hahat Kuki (F) of Bongbal Khulen from Kangpokpi Sardar Hills; Moirangthem Kumarjeet (M), s/o M. Shangai Singh of Kakching from Thoubal district; Gailatou Thaimai (M-27), s/o Paimeinga Paimai of Thoubal district; Karunangeliu (F-55) w/o Guanghiim, Merryland ward-9 from Tamenglong district; Chingkhoneng Kuki (F) of Molmom village from Sadar Hills; Md. Rafiuddin (M-46) s/o Md Rafiba of Lilong Ushoipokpi Samongsang of Lilong and Lhaichin Kuki (F) of Molpaphai Sugnu from Churachandpur district.
CM condoles; ex-gratia for victims
Expressing deep pain over the tragic bus accident that claimed ten lives and injuring over 30 other co-passengers Wednesday night, Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio Thursday announced cash relief of Rs.50,000 each to the deceased and Rs.10,000 to those injured to meet “emergency requirements”.
In his condolence message, the chief minister Rio conveyed deepest condolences to the members of the bereaved families and prayed to God Almighty to grant solace and courage to withstand the loss. He also wished speedy recovery to the injured.
Meanwhile, chief minister Neiphiu Rio has acknowledged and lauded the prompt assistance offered by the neighbouring villagers, district administration and the Assam Rifles in the evacuation of the death and injured from the accident site.
~Nagaland Post
