FAZILKA, Nov 27 — A Punjab Roadways bus travelling from Sirsa to Fazilka collided head-on with a scrap-laden truck on a single-lane road near Tahliwala village on Wednesday evening, killing two passengers and injuring 14 others, police said.
The crash occurred around 7.30 pm when the truck approached from the opposite lane. The front of the bus crumpled under the force of the collision, trapping the driver in the steering area for close to 45 minutes.
Locals rushed to the spot and pulled several injured passengers out before emergency teams arrived. Arniwala police soon reached and called for hydraulic cutters to slice open the front cabin. A crane later removed the remains of the wrecked vehicles.
Senior superintendent of police Gurmeet Singh said, “Two passengers died on the spot and 14 others were injured.” One deceased passenger has been identified as Sonu, while the identity of the second is pending confirmation.
All injured were taken to Fazilka civil hospital, where doctors said several had serious injuries. Dr Sunil said one patient in critical condition had been referred to a higher medical centre.
Preliminary findings suggest the truck driver may not have spotted the bus in low visibility. The vehicle was reportedly on its way to Malout to collect more scrap. “We have impounded both vehicles and the investigation is in progress,” the SSP said.
Officials said rescuers faced difficulty reaching the bus driver because the front frame had folded inward. “It took almost an hour to cut through and pull him out,” an official said. He is now receiving treatment at the civil hospital.
