Bilaspur: Five persons, including two women, were today killed and at least 35 others injured when a private bus overturned and it fell into a roadside ditch in this district of Chhattisgarh, police said. The bus, with 50 passengers on-board, was heading towards Bilaspur from Allahabad when the mishap took place early this morning in Banjari Ghat valley near Kenda village, they said. 

The bus driver lost control of the vehicle and it overturned and fell into a 10-feet deep ditch, said Bilaspur Additional Superintendent of Police (rural) Archana Jha. The deceased were identified as Revti (35), Arti (18) and Brusli Kumar, all natives of neighbouring Odisha, and Suresh Kumar of Takhatpur (Bilaspur) and Sewak Ram of Raigarh, the ASP said. 

"While four persons, including a woman, died on the spot, another woman succumbed to her injuries while being taking to Gaurela health centre," she added. At least 35 other bus passengers were injured, the officer said. "Of them, 23 were shifted to the Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Science (CIMS), Bilaspur, after preliminary treatment at Ratanpur primary health centre. 

Nine are being treated in Gaurela and three in Ratanpur," she said. A case has been registered in this connection and a probe was underway, Jha said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Raman Singh extended condolence to the families of the deceased and directed the officials concerned to ensure proper treatment of the injured.