Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Sunday expressed his sorrow over the death of 9 persons after a horrific collision between a truck and a passenger bus in Maihar district late last night.

According to police, nearly 20 persons were also injured after the bus rammed into a stationary stone-laden truck in Maihar at around 11 pm on Saturday.

The Chief Minister said that the news of untimely death of 10 passengers due to a horrific collision between a truck and a passenger bus of Uttar Pradesh in Maihar district of Madhya Pradesh is extremely sad and heart-rending.

In a post on X, he said, “I pray to Baba Mahakal to give place to the holy souls of the deceased in his lotus feet and for the speedy recovery of the injured. We are all with the bereaved families in this hour of grief.”

Meanwhile, in another post on X, he said: “In this horrific road accident, 9 passengers have been confirmed dead while one is in a very critical condition. Most of the passengers are from Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. I pray to Almighty God that all the injured get quick recovery.”

CM Yadav has directed the district administration to provide proper treatment to the injured and said the families of the deceased will be provided financial assistance by the government as per rules.

The accident took place on National Highway number 30, about 25 km from the district headquarters, as per police.

The bus was heading for Nagpur via Rewa after starting from Prayagraj when it crashed near the Nadan Dehat police station, Maihar Superintendent of Police (SP) Sudhir Agrawal told PTI.

While six fatalities were reported earlier, three more persons succumbed to injuries in a hospital, taking the death toll to nine, he said.

The deceased, all male, included a four-year-old boy, the police said. The injured persons have been admitted to different hospitals, including in Rewa, Agrawal said.

Rescue teams had to use a gas cutter and an excavator machine to make way through the wrecked bus to pull out the passengers, he said.

The rescue operation was wrapped up at around 2 am on Sunday, according to police.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Sunday that his monthly radio broadcast ‘Mann Ki Baat’ has shown that people like positive developments and inspiring and encouraging stories.

Speaking in the latest radio program episode where he touches social issues and highlights people’s efforts for a cause in different parts of the country, he noted that the broadcast is completing 10 years.

Describing it as an “emotional” episode, he said the programme has become a unique platform that celebrates India’s spirit and showcases the nation’s collective strength.

He also thanked the media for taking its message to people. Modi said there is generally a perception that people don’t pay attention if the content is not spicy or negative.

However, ‘Mann Ki Baat’ has shown that they are eager for positive information. People like positive things, inspiring examples and encouraging stories, he noted.

Modi said the ‘Make in India’ programme is completing its 10 years, asserting that export is rising in every sector and the rise in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is a testimony to its success. It has helped local manufacturers a lot, he added. He urged people to buy ‘Made in India’ products in the coming festival season.

Referring to his recent visit to the US, Modi said the return of nearly 300 antiquities to India is being widely talked about. When people start taking pride in their heritage, the world also respects their sentiments, he said, asserting that a large number of ancient artefacts have been returned to India by different countries in the last 10 years of his government.

In the programme, he highlighted the success of the ‘Swachh Bharat’ mission, lauding it as a great tribute to Mahatma Gandhi who put special emphasis on cleanliness all his life.

“On the 2nd of October, the Swachh Bharat Mission is completing 10 years. This is an occasion to commend those who turned it into a mass movement. It is also a befitting tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, who dedicated his entire life to this cause,” he said.

Gandhi’s birth anniversary falls on October 2. “Reduce, reuse and recycle” is being now talked about, he said.

With India witnessing copious rains in the monsoon season, Modi made a mention of efforts being made in different parts of the country to conserve water and lauded the exercise.

An FIR (First Information Report) has been registered against the Union Minister and BJP president JP Nadda and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman among others following the order of a Bengaluru court for allegedly committing irregularities and misusing electoral bond scheme for extortion of money from various companies.    

According to reports, the case was filed by Adarsh Iyer of the Janaadhikara Sangharsha Sanghatane (JSP), accusing Union Ministers Sitharaman, Nadda and others of extorting money by using central agencies under the guise of now-scrapped electoral bond, which benefited to the tune of around Rs 8000 crore.

The court on Friday sent a complaint linked with the electoral bond scheme against Sitharaman, BJP chief and others to the city police. The electoral bonds scheme was struck down by the Supreme Court in February this year as it was unconstitutional.

Besides Union Ministers Nadda and Sitharaman, FIR named the Enforcement Directorate (ED), BJP Karnataka president B Y Vijayendra and senior leader Naleen Kumar Kateel.

The FIR, which was filed based on the court directions, charged the accused under sections 384 (punishment for extortion) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) read with 34 (acts done with common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Based on the complaint, it is alleged that Sitharaman and officials from the Enforcement Directorate engaged in extortion under the guise of electoral bonds, resulting in a benefit of over Rs 8,000 crore.

The complainant, Iyer, asserted that this extortion was carried out in collusion with Nadda, Kateel, Vijayendra, and other party office bearers at both state and national levels.

Additionally, it is claimed that Sitharaman utilised the Enforcement Directorate to conduct raids, seizures, and arrests of various corporates, their CEOs, MDs, and other top executives to compel them to pay.

The complainant alleged that many corporates fearing actions, were coerced into purchasing electoral bonds worth several crores, which were subsequently encashed by Nadda, Kateel, Vijayendra, and others. Iyer also alleged that the entire extortion racket under the guise of electoral bonds has been orchestrated hand in glove with officials of BJP at various levels.

Initially, the complainant approached the Tilaknagar Police Station with a complaint on March 30 of this year, and subsequently sought assistance from the DCP Bengaluru South East in April 2024. In the absence of any action, the matter was brought before the court, and a private complaint was filed, seeking necessary directions from a Special Court exclusively designated to handle criminal cases pertaining to elected MPs/MLAs in the state of Karnataka.