Overview
- A passenger bus carrying 46 people hit a roadside tree near the Semarmathani turn on the Manendragarh-Kelhari road on Thursday, leaving six passengers dead.
- Police identified the six deceased by name and village and said the bus owner was among those killed, pointing to a heavy human toll for families and the local community.
- Reports on the injured vary across outlets and official statements, with police describing about 20 serious injuries and others minor; the hurt were taken to hospitals in Manendragarh and Chirmiri and at least two were referred to Ambikapur for specialized care.
- Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced relief of ₹5 lakh for each family of the dead and ₹50,000 for the injured and directed the district administration to ensure treatment and support for victims.
- Superintendent of Police Ratna Singh said an FIR will be filed and a detailed investigation will examine eyewitness claims of steering failure to establish whether mechanical fault or driver error caused the crash and who may be held responsible.