M A I N   N E W S

7 killed in mishap near Barwala
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, April 1 — Seven persons, including three women and a 10-year-old girl, were killed and 19 others injured in an accident involving three buses, near Barwala on the Panchkula-Naraingarh road this afternoon.

The deceased, three men, three women and a girl child, died on the spot. Five of the them have been identified as Ms Kusum Gupta of Sector 11, Panchkula, Mr Gurmel Singh of Kakar Majra village near Raipur Rani, Ms Shanti and 10-year-old Guddi, both of Barotiwala, and Ms Rominder Kaur of Hafed Colony, Sector 14, Panchkula.

Ten among the injured were reported to be in a critical condition and have been shifted to the PGI, Chandigarh, the Haryana Roadways authorities said. Six other passengers with minor injuries have been admitted to General Hospital in Sector 6, here, while three were admitted to Civil Hospital, Raipur Rani.

Preliminary investigations reveal that the accident occurred around 1. 30 p.m near Kot Billa village, about 12 km away from Panchkula. Police sources said that a Punjab Roadways bus (PB-12B-9711), on its way from Nangal to Paonta Sahib collided with a Haryana Roadways bus (HR-04-0412) coming from Sehzadpur in the opposite direction and heading for Chandigarh in the opposite direction. The Haryana Roadways bus overturned and rolled off into a nearby ditch about 20 feet below the road level. All deceased passengers were travelling in this bus.

The ill-fated bus rolled off the road as a third bus, of the Haryana Roadways (HR-03-8163), was following it closely. The driver of HR -03-8163 tried to overtake the bus ahead of him. This reportedly created confusion in the mind of the driver of the Punjab Roadways bus coming from the opposite direction and his bus collided with the Haryana Roadways bus HR-04-0412, police sources said. Meanwhile the bus which was trying to overtake also collided a little with the ill-fated bus.

Traffic on the road remained stranded for almost two-and-a half hours causing problems to commuters. A large number of people coming from Panchkula and heading to Delhi had to turn back and take the road from Dera Bassi.

The Red Cross Society will provide all possible medical support to the victims, the Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula, Mr S.K. Monga said.