Pilgrimage bus overturns – 24 killed

by Mizzima News

Monday, 06 April 2009 11:26

Sittwe (Mizzima) – A passenger bus carrying pilgrims overturned April 1st on the Rangoon-Sittwe highway near Ann City, Me Taung Ward, causing 24 fatalities. The FUSO bus, carrying 45 passengers, was coming from Mayangon Township, Rangoon, when it overturned on an uphill stretch of road near Ann City on the 1st of April and fell into a ravine, killing 24.   The bus driver escaped by jumping from the bus before in fell into a 500-foot deep ravine. Of the survivors, 16 listed as being in serious condition were flown yesterday from Sittwe to Rangoon for further medical treatment. The bus driver is currently being detained at the Ann City police station. "The highway is in a mountainous region and is so steep in some places. When the bus leaned and began to slide into the ravine, the driver jumped out from the bus. Some would not have known what happened to them as they were sleeping on the bus at that time," a female survivor recounted.   "The pilgrims, hailing from the same locality, chartered the bus for their pilgrimage trip. In one family, only a child survived the accident, which killed his dad, mom and elder brother. His luck is awful," she said.   Many of those who did survive suffered serious injuries, including trauma to the head.   Soldiers who were manning a checkpoint on the highway even suggested to the driver not to navigate the stretch of road during the night, but the driver neglected their warning, a survivor added.   "The responsible persons who were manning the checkpoint suggested us to drive only in the morning, seeing the condition of our bus. But the driver didn't heed their advice and continued the journey," a survivor said at Sittwe airport just before his transfer to Rangoon's General Hospital. < Prev   Next >