Monday, January 10 2005 10:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bijapur: Fifty persons were feared killed when a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus carrying them plunged into the Almatti canal early this morning (Jan 10, 2005) at Nidugundi in Bijapur district of north Karnataka today.

Thirty five bodies have been recovered so far, police said.

Nine passengers of the ill-fated bus, bound for Chitapur in Gulbarga district from Hubli swam to safety, district and police officials said.

The mishap occurred when the driver was negotiating a U-turn, plunged into the 15-foot deep canal and was completely submerged, police said.

Two cranes were engaged to pull the bus out of the canal but did not succeed, forcing the rescuers to break open the windowpanes, sources at the site said.

Bijapur district Superintendent of Police S K Singh and other officials are supervising the relief operations.

Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh and Transport Minister Mallikarjun Kharge have expressed shock over the tragedy and are rushing to the accident site, official sources said.