8 die as bus falls off bridge in Bathinda

At least eight persons were killed and 26 injuries after a private bus carrying nearly 45 passengers broke through the bridge guard rail and fell into a drain on the Bathinda-Talwandi Sabo road at Jiwan Singhwala village, 13 km from here, today.

Five persons died on the spot, while three succumbed to injuries at Bhai Mani Singh Civil Hospital, Bathinda.

Man loses life as buses race for passengers

• A man was crushed between two buses at a busy bus stop in Moga on Friday. The buses, engaged in fierce competition to pick up as many passengers as possible, caused the accident.
• Sources said a Punjab Roadways bus and another of a private operator were being recklessly driven to reach Joginder Singh Chowk, a bus stop in the town, to get more passengers.
• Surjit Singh, the victim, attempting to board the Roadways bus from the rear side, was crushed when the driver of private bus tried to overtake it from the wrong side.
• Jasbir Singh, the driver of the bus owned by Rajguru Transport Company, has been booked for causing death by negligence.

The bus belonging to New Guru Kashi Transport Company was travelling from Sardulgarh in Mansa district to Bathinda when it plunged into the drain amid rain.

DC Shaukat Ahmed Parray and SSP Amneet Kondal along with other officials rushed to the scene and oversaw rescue operations by the police, the NDRF, NGO volunteers and locals. The passengers were pulled out of the partially submerged bus that landed on its side and rushed to the civil hospitals at Talwandi Sabo and Bathinda. The bus was later retrieved with the help of a JCB machine.

“Eight persons have been declared dead, while 34 are receiving treatment at the hospitals,” said DC Parray. Some rescued passengers claimed the bus was being driven at a high speed and the driver lost control after a truck appeared from the opposite direction.

The administration was in the process of identifying the deceased. A control room (9780100498 and 9646815951) had been set up for public to receive information about the victims. Of the 21 passengers shifted to the Bathinda Civil Hospital, three succumbed to injuries and two were referred to a private hospital. The condition of the 16 others was stable. Of the 13 passengers hospitalised at Talwandi, five were declared dead, while one was referred to Bathinda. Probe was on to ascertain the reason behind the mishap, said the DC.