Punjab mishap: Bus falls into Sirhind canal due to heavy rain; 8 reported dead, 11 injured

As many as eight passengers died and 11 others got injured in Punjab’s Muktsar district after a passenger bus lost its control and fell into a feeder canal. According to the information, the incident took place on Tuesday, September 19, noon on the Muktsar-Kotkapura highway, when the bus reportedly skidded due to heavy rainfall and fell into the Sirhind feeder canal in Muktar district. The bus was enroute to Muktsar from Gidderbaha in Punjab. 

A police official said that the incident happened at around 1.30 pm, about half an hour after it started its journey. It was said that the bus driver reportedly lost control over the wheels due to heavy rainfall. After the incident, a rescue operation was initiated to rescue people trapped inside the bus. Around 45 people including women and children were rescued from the bus.

Police trying to ascertain the exact death toll

As per police, all the injured have been admitted to nearby hospitals for treatment and dead bodies have been shifted to the mortuary. A case has been registered in the matter and further legal action is being taken. 

A local resident stated that the condition of the road built over the bridge on this canal is not good. Moreover, it is being claimed that there was some waterlogging on the road as well, which might have resulted in the tragic accident. However, the driver and the conductor of the bus are said to have survived the accident. 

Locals informed that after the incident, few of the people, who tried to get away from the bus got washed away in the canal water. As soon as the incident took place, villagers jumped in to save the people. Later, the local police team arrived at the spot and started a rescue operation. After rescuing people trapped in the bus, the bus was pulled out from the canal using machines.

A police official said that the death toll is not confirmed yet. The police are trying to ascertain the exact number of deaths in the case.