At least 21 killed as mini-truck carrying marriage party falls off Sone river bridge in Madhya Pradesh

At least 21 members of a 'baaraat' (marriage party) were killed when a mini-truck carrying them fell off a bridge over the Sone river in Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh last night, officials said.

Several others were injured in the accident who were rescued and admitted to the district hospital.

The authorities said many people died after they were trapped inside the vehicle.

Both the district collector and the district police chief reached the spot and were supervising the rescue operation, the officials added. 

Sidhi District Collector Dilip Kumar confirmed the death toll. 

"21 people have died in the accident and many have been injured. The injured have been taken to the hospital for treatment," he said.  

Expressing deep sorrow over the accident, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced an assistance of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the injured, the district collector said.

"The tragic accident on Jogdaha bridge on Sone river in Sidhi district is extremely painful. I pray to God for peace to the deceased souls and early receovery to injured," Chouhan tweeted.

The mini-truck fell off the Jogdaha bridge near Amelia in Bahri police station area of the district.

The vehicle fell about 60-70-foot down onto the dry river bed. Efforts were on to pull out the truck.

The site is about 42 km from the Sidhi district headquarters.

(With PTI inputs)