Shimla/Bilaspur, July 26
Two pilgrims were killed and several others injured after a bus carrying devotees from Punjab overturned near Shahtalai in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district on Sunday, officials said.
The bus (PB-03BJ-9755), carrying pilgrims from Amritsar, had brought devotees to the revered Baba Balak Nath shrine at Shahtalai. The accident occurred while the bus was returning to Amritsar after the pilgrims had completed their visit. According to preliminary information, the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle near Shahtalai, causing it to overturn on the road.
The crash triggered panic, with screams for help echoing from the overturned bus. Police personnel from Talai police station, members of the Shahtalai Taxi Union and local residents rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation. Trapped passengers were pulled out and shifted to nearby hospitals in private vehicles and taxis.
Eyewitnesses claimed that immediate treatment facilities were unavailable at the Community Health Centre in Shahtalai, forcing rescuers to transport the injured to other medical facilities for emergency care.
Bilaspur Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar confirmed that two people lost their lives in the accident. He said the district administration, police, local volunteers and taxi operators worked together to carry out rescue and relief operations, while all injured passengers are being provided medical treatment.
Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.
