Orbit bus again, hits motorcyclists; crowd breaks its windowpanes

Gurdeep Singh Mann

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 31

Despite claims of giving lessons of etiquettes to drivers of Orbit buses, owned by the first family of Punjab, there seems to be no respite from the authoritative driving sense adopted by these drivers as two motorcyclists were injured after being hit by an Orbit bus.

The incident occurred this afternoon on the Bathinda-Barnala road where the speeding bus hit the two motorcyclists from the rear side.

Passers-by said the bus was driven at a breakneck speed and went almost out of control after hitting the motorcyclists. A large number of people gathered at the place where the accident occurred. Later, they started throwing stones on the bus.

“After breaking the windowpanes of the bus, some passers-by also manhandled its driver and conductor. However, they managed to escape with the help of a large number of police personnel who reached the spot after the incident,” said Rupinder Singh, a resident of Chak Ram Singhwala village.

He said the narrow road had become a cause of numerous road accidents and this was not for the first time that such an accident had taken place.

“Almost everyday such road accidents take place, but today’s incident got highlighted as the bus belongs to the Badal family. It was people’s ire that was reflected in the stone pelting against the political-cum-business family of the ruling SAD,” said another resident, Vazir Singh of Bhucho Mandi.

The injured, identified as Ram Singh of Kothe Tall Wale and Jasvir Singh of Rampura, were rushed to the a local hospital by volunteers of Sahara Jan Sewa, an NGO.

Besides police personnel from the Bhucho police post, police officials from the Cantt police station also reached the spot. After providing a security cover to the driver and conductor, they escorted the luxury bus to the Police Lines.

The police said they were investigating the incident and a case would be registered against the guilty.