Ambala bus mishap: 3 dead, 50 injured

Chandigarh, Three persons died and 50 were injured when a Haryana Roadways bus (HR 37-C 3414) fell into Began river near Baragaon village under Naraingarh sub division on Monday morning.

Locals said 60 passengers were on board the Ambala depot bus which was on its way to Ambala from Naraingarh, adding that the mishap occurred at 8.20 am between Naraingarh and Shahzadpur.

They said the bus broke through the bridge railing, fell and turned upside down as it landed on to the riverbed.

Manoj, a local, said the bus tyres busted due to which the driver Surinder Singh lost control of the vehicle, adding that there was no water in the river.

According to sources, the deceased have been identified as Renu (23) of Baroli village and Suman Kumari (22) of Nanhera village, who were both declared brought dead to the hospital, while Manit (25) of Berwasa village, succumbed to his injuries later at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.

Sources said Renu was pursuing some course at Panchkula and was to change buses at Shahzadpur, while Suman was a local SD College student.

Sub-divisional magistrate Yogesh Kumar, civil surgeon Vinod Gupta, Haryana Roadways general manager Amit Panchal, assistant commissioner of police Kamaldeep Singh and other senior officials reached the spot soon after and made arrangements to shift the injured to hospitals.

Kumar said 22 injured persons were referred to the PGIMER at Chandigarh and 11, including bus conductor Balvinder Singh, were admitted to the local general hospital. Others with minor injures were discharged after first aid. He added that the GM has been asked to conduct an inquiry into the accident.

A large number of motorists and villagers from nearby places gathered at the spot to evacuate trapped passengers and traffic remained disrupted for some time.

Sources said three earth-moving machines were pressed into service to retrieve the mangled bus from the riverbed.

6 injured at PGIMER trauma centre

Out of the 50 injured, 22 were brought to the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32 and PGIMER, Chandigarh.

Seven patients with multiple injuries were brought to the advanced trauma centre of the PGIMER, out of which 25-year-old Manit later succumbed to his injuries. The other six, including Munish Kumar (22), son of Rajinder Kumar, Ekta Rani, daughter of Satish Kumar, Divyanshu (19), son of Sukhvir Singh, Aman (17), son of Vijay Kumar, Kulwant Kaur (60), wife of Karnail Singh and Sapna (19), daughter of Moti Lal, are admitted at the Advanced Trauma Centre of the institute. According to the PGIMER officials, their condition is stable.

Sukhvir Singh, whose son Divyanshu suffered multiple injuries, said he was informed over phone that his son had been injured and rushed to the PGIMER. “The doctors are saying that he is stable but the next 48 hours are crucial,” he said.

Similarly, 15 of the injured were brought to GMCH-32. Out of whom, two were discharged receiving required treatment. A total of 13 are still admitted and their condition is stable.

Mohit Kumar, receiving treatment at the GMCH-32 said it happened all of sudden and the bus fell in to the rivulet following a loud bang. “I was brought out of the mangled bus by passersby and then to the hospital,” he said.