Punjab Newsline | Bilaspur (Himachal Pradesh)
Two pilgrims from Amritsar lost their lives and at least 13 others were injured after a bus carrying devotees from Punjab overturned near Shahtalai in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur district late Sunday night.
According to officials, the pilgrims were returning home after offering prayers at the Baba Balak Nath Temple when the bus reportedly went out of control and overturned around 10:30 pm near Shahtalai.
The deceased have been identified as Kavya, daughter of Kuldeep Kumar, and Ritesh, son of Ajay Kumar, both residents of Amritsar. They died on the spot.
The accident triggered panic and cries for help, prompting local residents to alert the police and district administration. Rescue teams, along with local volunteers, rushed to the scene and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals.
Seven injured pilgrims are undergoing treatment at Civil Hospital, Barsar, while one critically injured devotee has been referred to PGI Chandigarh and two others to Hamirpur Medical College and Hospital. Several passengers with minor injuries were discharged after receiving first aid.
The bus was carrying more than 35 devotees, and most passengers escaped without serious injuries.
Those who sustained minor injuries include Navdeep, Dushan, Renu, Gurpreet, Sukhwinder, Jasveer, and Kajal, while Ansh and Vansh reportedly suffered serious injuries. Another critically injured passenger, Shiv, was referred to PGI Chandigarh for advanced treatment.
Injured were taken to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Shahtalai, but as the facility was closed, they were immediately shifted to Civil Hospital, Barsar for treatment.
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. The reason behind the crash has not yet been officially confirmed.
