M A I N   N E W S

25 dead as bus falls into HP lake
Pratibha Chauhan and Dinesh Kanwar
Tribune News Service

Bilaspur, September 24
Twentyfive persons were killed and 22 others injured when an overloaded private mini bus plunged into the waters of the Gobindsagar at Rahian village, about 18 km from Bilaspur town, this morning. According to officials, the ill-fated bus (HP- 69A-5108) was overloaded. Though it was a 21-seater bus, 50 passengers were travelling on the vehicle, some being on the roof.

The bus was on its way from Rishikesh to Bilaspur when the driver lost control and the bus plunged into the deep waters of the Gobindsagar at about 8.30 am.

Eyewitnesses said while some of those sitting on the roof of the bus swam to safety, a majority of those inside the bus lost their lives. The survivors and injured said the bus was overloaded and the driver was resorting to over-speeding. Many of the victims and injured were office-goers and college students who were on their way to Ghumarwin, Bilaspur and Kandror. Many schoolchildren, who were daily commuters on the bus, had a narrow escape as the accident took place about half a km after they got down from the bus.

“We heard a big thudding sound as the bus plunged into the water. We were able to save about 15 passengers with the help of the locals,” said Iqbal and Ramnath, engaged in rescue near the mishap site. “In a bid to overtake a state transport bus, the driver lost control of the vehicle,” said Rattan Chand, who was injured in the mishap.

Sukhdev and his nephew Sachin of Bhangiani village said the driver was very rash and could not control the bus on a narrow curve.

A magisterial inquiry has also been ordered into the mishap. Governor Urmila Singh and CM Virbhadra Singh mourned the deaths, while former CM PK Dhumal and MLAs Rajesh Dharmani and Bambar Thakur visited the accident site.