Bus with 40 passengers plunges into river

A private bus carrying around 40 passengers plunged into a river in Thazhathangadi, Kottayam on Tuesday afternoon.

Local residents rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations within minutes of the accident and are understood to have rescued 17 persons, two of whom were dead.

A full-fledged rescue machinery including a crane which reached the scene are trying to lift the fully submerged bus.

Most of the passengers in the bus that was running in the Kottayam-Cherthala route were students who were on their way to see the “pakal pooram” in Thirunakkara.

Although the reason for the accident is not immediately known, according to unconfirmed reports, the bus plunged into the river after hitting a post.