Three persons died and 25 others were injured when a private bus they were travelling in fell into a roadside ditch at Dhanuki Mor in the Agamkuan police station area on Friday afternoon.

The deceased have been identified as Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh resident Mohammed Ayub, 65; Samastipur resident Jayshree Paswan, 30; and Darbhanga resident Kanhaiya Jha, 35.

The bus, with registration number BR 31 P4879, was en route to Rosera in Samastipur. It left the Mithapur bus stand with 35 passengers around 11.30am. Footage from CCTV cameras installed at Dhanuki Mor showed that the bus moving at a slow speed hit an electricity tower and tumbled off the road around 11.50am.

“It appears that the driver lost control of the vehicle due to problems in steering,” said Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaaj. “The exact reason could be ascertained after the probe. The driver is absconding.”

Chandawati Devi, 60, who was going to Dalsingsarai in Samastipur with her husband, Laxmi Mahto, 65, and was sitting behind the driver, said: “When the bus started we heard the driver telling passengers and his helper that he is facing difficulties in rotating the steering.”

Chandawati has sustained injuries on her shoulder, while her husband was injured on his head. They are admitted at Nalanda Medical College and Hospital.

The district administration has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the family members of each deceased.

A case has been filed against the driver under IPC sections including 279 (rash driving), 337 (causing hurt by endangering life of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt by endangering life of others) and others. Due to damage to the high tension wire, power supply to Patna City was snapped. Patna Electricity Supply Undertaking chief Dilip Kumar Singh said supply would be restored by Friday night.