M A I N   N E W S

3 killed as bus falls into khud
Tribune News Service

Solan, Oct 1 — Three persons were killed and about 25 injured when a Haryana Roadways bus rolled into a khud near Jabli, about 20 km from here today afternoon. Three of the injured, who are said to be in a critical condition, were shifted to the PGI in Chandigarh.

Two of the deceased have been identified as Naresh Kumar and Hardeep Singh, both from Patiala. The other deceased, a male aged between 35 and 40 years is yet to be identified. The injured were treated at Community Health Centre, Dharampur and ESI Hospital, Parwanoo. Among the injured are two Nepalis.

According to the Solan Sub Divisional Magistrate, Mr Rakesh Dhiman, the incident occurred at 3 pm. The bus (HR-37-2326) was proceeding from Shimla to Kurukshetra. He said relief as per the Himachal Pradesh relief manual has been sanctioned.

The Deputy Commissioner of police at Parwanoo, Mr Sanjeev Lakhanpal said the police has registered a case under Sections 271, 237, and 304 of the IPC against the driver of the bus. According to police officials, the bus was overloaded and the driver could have lost control. About 60 persons, including women were said to have been on board.

Trees on the slope prevented the bus from rolling beyond 20 feet, otherwise the casualties could have been much higher.

The injured are Surjit Singh (Kalka), Arpana (Shimla), Madan Lal (Kangra), Sham Sunder (Nariangarh) Gurnam Dass (Kalka), Ritsh Keswan ( Ujjain MP), Ashok Kumar (Yamunanagar), Vijay (Rampura Phul), Sanjeev Kumar (Shimla), Avinash (Surguja, MP), Darshan Lal (Kalka), Parvesh Bhargava (Sector 47 Chandigarh), K. Devi (Patran, Patiala), Bhagwan Das (Patiala), Raman and Gora (Nepal), Murari (Ram Darbar Chandigarh), Ram Kali (Jabli), Karam Singh (Dhanas), Dyal Chand and Naginder (West Bengal), Puran Chand and Kamlesh (Kurukshetra), Sunita (Patiala), Gurnam (Ambala), Mohinder Singh (driver from Pehowa), Ram Kumar (Conductor from Kurukshetra), Satpal (Kaithal), Kamla, Pushpa, Karam Singh, Bhagwan Dass, Amrit Bhalla, Bachna Ram, Mehar Kaur, Kuldeep Singh and Gurmail Kaur.

According to the police Surjit Singh and Madan Lal are in serious condition and have been admitted to the PGI.