Bus falls into Narmada canal, 41 children die | In Pics

TRAGIC FALL: The bus carrying school children of Class VIII and IX fell into a canal.

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New Delhi: At least 44 people, mostly schoolchildren, died when their bus fell into a canal on the Narmada river in Bodeli near Vadodara early Wednesday.

Early reports say that out of the 44 dead, there are 41 school children. Among the other casualties, driver of the bus, the conductor and an old lady are reported dead.

The Gujarat Transport Corporation bus was carrying around 60 school students and teachers. The accident took place at around 6:30 am. Early reports say the driver lost control when the bus was on a bridge and fell into the canal.

The children were of Class VIII and IX and were going for their annual exams.

Four children have been rescued till now. Rescue operations with twenty divers have already begun, officials said.

The water released into the canal through the Sardar Sarovar Dam was stopped to aid the rescue operations, officials said.

The State government has announced Rs 1 lakh each for the families of these who have died in the accident. The government has also ordered a high level inquiry into the accident.

With Agency inputs