HOJAI: Eight people were killed when a bus plunged into a canal in West Bengal's Nadia district, 150 km off Kolkata this evening. Thirty six people were injured in the accident and were taken to hospitals in Tehatta and Krishnagar.
Six of the 8 victims were identified as Nijamuddin Mondal (65), Benjira Bibi (24), Rehana Bibi (35), Rejaul Karim Mondal (30), Anushka Halder (2) and Bishakha Halder (40). Most of them were from Tehatta, police said.
According to police, the incident happened after the driver lost control of the overspeeding bus near the Tehatta town.
The bus was reportedly ferrying 80 passengers, many of whom were traveling on top of the bus. It was going Plassey from Krishnanagar, said Nadia SP Sheesh Ram Jhajharia.
Nadia District Magistrate Sumit Gupta said that kin of the victims will be given a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each.