A festive journey turned into a nightmare late Monday evening in Chhattisgarh’s Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur (MCB) district. A bus transporting dozens of villagers to a mass wedding ceremony under the ‘Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana’ met with a severe accident on the Janakpur-Khadgawan route. The vehicle reportedly lost control near the Nagpur railway area and plummeted into a deep roadside ditch.

Casualties and Rescue Operations: There were approximately 40 couples and their relatives on board when the mishap occurred. According to local authorities, 13 passengers have sustained critical injuries and are currently undergoing intensive treatment at a government hospital. Survivors recounted scenes of chaos and terror as the bus flipped over. While the local police and health departments rushed to the spot for rescue operations, the bus driver and cleaner managed to flee the scene immediately after the crash.

Administrative Negligence Alleged: The accident has sparked a political row, with former MLA Gulab Kamro accusing the district administration of gross negligence. Critics argue that for such a large-scale government-sponsored event, the administration should have ensured better transportation safety and vehicle inspections. Calls for a high-level probe and strict action against the transport contractors are growing louder as the families of the injured seek justice for the lapse in security.