33 students among 50 hurt as bus overturns in Pinjore
Panchkula, July 8
Fifty passengers, including 33 students of a government model school in Kalka, were injured when an overloaded mini-bus of the Haryana Roadways overturned at a sharp turn near Naulta village in Pinjore around 7.30 am today.
The injured students, along with six other passengers, were admitted to the Civil Hospital, Sector 6, Panchkula. While a woman, who suffered an injury on the arm, was referred to the PGI, the others were discharged by the evening. There were more than 50 passengers in the bus, way beyond the vehicle’s capacity.
Bus driver Yash Pal fled the spot, while conductor Sandeep Kumar was admitted to the hospital with an injury on the face.
Residents of the village and nearby areas pulled the injured students and others out of the vehicle. They were taken to the nearby government polyclinic in Kalka. Those needing further treatment were shifted to the Civil Hospital, Panchkula.
The students and other commuters alleged the bus was being driven rashly.
Ashok Kaushik, General Manager, Haryana Roadways, Panchkula, suspended the bus driver and conductor.
Panchkula Deputy Commissioner Yash Garg and DCP Himadri Kaushik, along with officials of the Transport Department and political leaders, met the injured at the hospital.
Dr Garg said the district administration had started an investigation into the matter. “The Police Department is carrying out an investigation into the cause of the accident,” he said.
The DC said nearly 50 persons were injured in the accident. Of them, more than 30 students and others were brought to the Panchkula Civil hospital. “A woman, who suffered a liver injury, was shifted to the ICU of the Panchkula hospital. All students are stable. No one has suffered any threatening injury. The others are under observation at Pinjore,” he added.
Dr Mukta Kumar, Civil Surgeon, Civil Hospital, Sector 6, said, “A woman bystander, who suffered an injury, has been shifted to the PGI.”
Driver arrested
Additional SHO of Pinjore Gurpal said they had arrested bus driver Yash Pal, who had fled the spot. The police have also registered a case against him under Sections 281 (rash driving), 125 (negligent act to endanger public life), 125 (A) (negligent act resulting in injury to another person) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).
