Bengal Bus Slams Through Bridge Into River, Police Tear-Gases Mob

BAHARAMPUR, MURSHIDABAD:  A packed bus crashed through the side of a bridge and plunged into a river in West Bengal's Murshidabad district this morning. As local people raced to the rescue, the police were targeted by an angry crowd and accused of arriving late. Facing a stone-throwing mob, the police used tear gas shells. One person is reported to have died.

The bus, travelling from Nadia district to Malda, fell into the river in Daulatabad, about 220 km from Kolkata, and sank. Four or five survivors pulled out of the river said the bus driver was talking on the phone and lost control.

Locals rushed with small boats to rescue whoever they could. By the time the police arrived with cranes, a huge crowd had gathered. The crowd threw stones at the policemen, overturned police vehicles and even set two on fire. Fire engines were also targeted with stones. Police had to use teargas to disperse the angry mobs. A huge police force is now on the spot and trying to lift the bus from the river with cranes.