RAIPUR: At least 10 persons died including three women and a six-year-old girl in a road accident on Monday morning when a passenger bus dashed into railing of small over bridge and the passengers fell into a canal from the broken window, about 30 feet down in water, causing their death at Morega near Korba district in Chhattisgarh. More than 17 persons were said to be severely injured in the accident.

According to sources the accident took place at 9 in the morning about 100 kilometres from Vishrampur and team of police reached the spot after 2 hours of the incident for rescue. The bus belonging to Hindustan bus service was going to Korba from Surajpur district, carrying passengers of Korba, Vishrampur, Katghora, Ambikapur and few from Palamu district of Jharkhand.

Prima facie indicates that there were more of women and children among the deceased. While seven died on spot, nine others died at hospital during treatment. The bus driver who was said to be in inebriated condition while he dashed the vehicle to the railing, fled the spot after accident.

Eye witnesses said that the bus was running on a very high speed and made a bomb-like sound when it dashed the railing, after which people fell down in canal due to jerk which broke the window.

Police said that the bodies were being sent for autopsy and their belongings were being checked to get their identity.

Chief minister Raman Singh has expressed his deep condolence towards the bereaved families and ordered Korba district administration to assist those injured.