Mumbai, Jul 18 (IANS): Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde spoke with his Madhya Pradesh counterpart Shivraj Singh Chouhan and discussed the rescue and relief operations for the ST bus tragedy which has killed at least 13 passengers and around two dozen still missing, officials said here on Monday.

Shinde also directed Jalgaon Collector Abhijeet Raut to provide all medical assistance to the injured and coordinate with the MP government for other aspects like bringing the bodies of the victims, etc.

The CM has also announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the kin of each deceased victim and full medical expenses for the injured.

He also asked the district authorities to hand over the victims' bodies to their families after completing due process.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is also monitoring the situation, Nationalist Congress Party state President Jayant Patil is rushing to Jalgaon while Congress and Shiv Sena have also asked their activists to help in the relief works.

Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar said that among the passengers are residents of Jalgaon, Pune, Nandurbar and other places in the state, while bodies of 8 fatalities, including 4 men and 4 women, have been identified so far.

This morning, at around 10.15 a.m., a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus No. MH-40-N-9849, which left Indore at 7.30 a.m. for Amalner in Jalgaon, tumbled into the Narmada River on a bridge between Khalghat and Tikri in Dhar.

As per latest information, 13 persons have perished in the tragedy, around two-dozen missing or washed away in the flooded river water, besides a few injured, and the cause of the accident is being investigated by the MP Police.

On his part, Collector Raut has started a control room to provide information to the families of the passengers (Tel: 02572-223180 /02572-217193).