JAIPUR: At least 12 people were killed and over 41 injured Tuesday when their private bus lost control while racing another bus and crashed into the wall of an overbridge in Rajasthan’s Sikar district.
Some of the injured in the 2pm accident on Bikaner-Jaipur highway in Laxmangarh are critical, police said, adding the death toll could rise.
Most passengers were heading to Sikar for Dhanteras shopping. The injured were rushed to hospitals in Laxmangarh and Sikar, with seven in critical condition later referred to Jaipur, around 150km away.
According to eyewitnesses, the driver of the bus — travelling from Salasar to Nawalgarh — failed to navigate a turn on the bridge. Some passengers said the bus was likely moving at 80kmph when the driver lost control.
There were more than 50 passengers in the bus due to the festival season.
Several passengers described a scene of chaos and panic following the crash that left the front section of the bus severely damaged. Locals and bystanders rushed to aid the wounded and ferry them to nearby hospitals.
Later, minister Sumit Godara announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the deceased.