Ludhiana, August 1
A day after a bus plunged into the Bhakra canal near Sirhind and around 42 passengers were feared killed, Punjab Transport Minister Ajit Singh Kohar today said a special investigation team (SIT) would probe the reasons behind the mishap. Action would be initiated against the road construction company, if it was found at fault, he added.

“It is a tragic incident. All passengers onboard the bus have been feared drowned and the bodies of majority of them cannot be located yet. I will not comment whether the incident took place due to the poor condition of the road or because of the negligence of the bus driver. An SIT will conduct a probe and action will be taken accordingly," said Kohar.

PWD Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon said the state was paying a heavy price for the non-completion of the expressway project. "Several accidents have occurred on the National Highway No. 1 due to its poor condition. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal have made several representations to the Central Government for the early completion of the expressway, but the project continues to hang fire due to a pending litigation," he added.