NEW DELHI: Four people were reported killed and more than a dozen injured when two buses carrying pilgrims under the Punjab government’s Mukhyamantri Tirath Yatra scheme collided head-on in Tarn Taran district on Saturday (Nov 14) evening, according to local media reports.
The accident occurred around 4pm on National Highway-54 near Naushehra Pannuan when one of the buses reportedly lost control while attempting to avoid a motorcycle, crossed the road divider, and crashed into another bus coming from the opposite direction.
The collision severely damaged the front portions of both vehicles, leaving several passengers trapped or injured and triggering panic at the accident site.
Local media reports said four people had died, and several passengers were injured in the collision.
The accident reportedly occurred while attempting to save a motorcyclist. The injured had been shifted to different hospitals for treatment.
The reported involvement of a motorcycle could not be independently verified, and the precise circumstances leading to the accident remained under investigation.
The two buses were operating under the state government’s pilgrimage scheme, which facilitates visits to religious destinations for eligible residents.
Preliminary reports indicated that around 37 pilgrims were travelling in the buses. The exact passenger count and the identities of the deceased were yet to be officially established.
According to initial accounts, the pilgrims were returning after paying obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar when the accident occurred.
Residents rushed to the scene after hearing the collision and joined police personnel in rescuing passengers from the damaged vehicles.
The injured were taken to different hospitals, where they were provided medical assistance. Details about their condition and the number requiring specialised treatment were not immediately available.
The accident disrupted traffic on the national highway as rescue teams worked to clear the damaged vehicles and assist passengers.
The casualty figures were initially disputed, with some preliminary accounts suggesting a higher death toll. However, subsequent reports from local journalists put the number of fatalities at four.
There was no immediate official confirmation of the final casualty figures from the district administration.
The accident has raised questions about safety arrangements for passengers travelling under the government-sponsored pilgrimage programme, including vehicle fitness, driver preparedness and the supervision of buses carrying groups of pilgrims.
The Mukhyamantri Tirath Yatra scheme is intended to enable eligible residents, including elderly people, to visit important religious sites without bearing the full cost of transportation.
The circumstances of Saturday’s collision have brought attention to the arrangements made for ensuring passenger safety during such journeys.
Authorities were expected to examine whether the reported attempt to avoid a motorcycle caused one of the buses to cross the divider and whether any traffic or vehicle-related factors contributed to the collision.
Details about the operators of the two buses, their fitness certificates and the arrangements made for the journey were not immediately available.
There was also no confirmed announcement regarding compensation for the families of those killed or financial assistance to the injured.
Police and district authorities were gathering information about the victims and the circumstances of the collision.
The final casualty count and the cause of the accident remained subject to official confirmation. - The Statesman/ANN
