A day after he claimed that 27 passengers had been killed in a bus accident in Bihar’s East Champaran district, state Disaster Management Minister Dinesh Chandra Yadav retracted his statement on Friday.
While admitting that he had announced the deaths of 27 people on Thursday, the minister said that there were 13 people in the bus.
According to reports, the minister said that at least eight of them were admitted to the hospital for treatment and the remaining five may have left on their own.
In what might snowball into a major embarrassment for the coalition government in Bihar, both Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed grief over the incident.
The CM was reportedly addressing a function when news of the accident came in. He got up and asked the audience to stand up and maintain a minute’s silence in respect for the deceased.
He had also assured all help to the kin of the deceased.
मोतिहारी में मुजफ्फरपुर से दिल्ली जा रही बस दुर्घटना में लोगों की मृत्यु अत्यंत दुखद। दुर्घटना में मृत बिहार के लोगों के परिजनों को आर्थिक सहायता दी जाएगी तथा घायलों के समुचित इलाज का निर्देश दिया गया।https://t.co/vfpXCCr2oq
— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) May 3, 2018
“My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones due to a bus accident in Motihari. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest,” tweeted the PM.
My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones due to a bus accident in Motihari. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 3, 2018
Though 32 people had reportedly booked seats in the bus, only 13 boarded it from Muzaffarpur.
Yadav had on Thursday told reporters of the deaths in the accident which happened on NH-28 near Belwa village under Kotwa police station area.
“As per my information, 27 passengers have been killed in the incident,” Yadav told newsmen, adding that massive relief and rescue operation had been launched. Today, he said that his information was based on “local sources” and that no “remains” have been found.
Read More: Delhi-bound bus catches fire in Bihar, 27 die
According to the minister, the bus lost control in a bid to save a motorcyclist. He announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to each victim’s family.
The bus lost control in a bid to avoid a biker as it crossed into the boundary of east Champaran and fell into the roadside ditch. Within moments, it reportedly went up in flames.