As in Madras, life in Andhra Pradesh, home state of Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, was severely disrupted by the storm, which uprooted trees, cut roads and forced cancellation of many rail services. The driver had lost control of the bus after swerving to avoid an oncoming car, The News said. The accident happened late Saturday about 60 miles south of the capital, on a road skirting the Jhelum river and canal. Rescue workers said they saved 40 people, but were able to recover the bodies of only three victims. Strong currents in the canal apparently swept away more than 20 others, police said.
Accidents are common on the congested roads by the river and canal.
In 1993,a bus drove off the road at the same spot as Saturday's accident, killing 38 people. A bus carrying pilgrims to a southern Sri Lankan town plunged off a cliff on Tuesday, killing 19 people and injuring over 40, police said. The pilgrims were heading for the southern holy city of Kataragama where thousands of Sri Lankans converge daily to pay homage to their gods. Local government officials were supervising relief and rescue operations in the area, the news agency said. It gave no other details.