A major accident took place near village Kauntarpur on the Pathankot-Jalandhar National Highway, where a tourist sleeper bus hit six people travelling on the roadside. Two people died on the spot, while four others sustained serious injuries. Angry locals set the bus on fire. The bus was travelling from Jalandhar towards Pathankot. Police reached the spot and started an investigation.
Series of events
The incident took place around 7:30 in the morning when a speeding tourist sleeper bus, which was travelling from Jalandhar towards Pathankot, reached near village Kauntarpur and hit six people on the road, including two motorcycle riders, a woman on a scooter, a small child, and two pedestrians. The bus operated under Laxmi holidays and the driver escaped the location after the hit.
Identification of the victims
Giving information about the incident, one of the locals disclosed identities of the victims of the accident. Ranjeet Singh, son of Darshan Singh was on a scooty and was hit by the bus. Later Arun Kumar, son of Vijay Kumar was on the stationary motorcycle and was captured in the incident. One of the pedestrians was returning home after leaving his child to the school while the other was headed to his farm. Both were aged between 30-35 years. A woman along with her child were also hit in by the volvo bus.
Anger of locals
Enraged locals set the bus on fire and blocked the road because the bus driver fled from the spot after the accident. Police reached the spot, informed the fire brigade, and the flames were brought under control. Police later convinced the locals to clear the road and started further action against the absconding driver.
Statements from locals
Speaking about the incident, local residents said that the bus driver was driving at a very high speed, due to which he hit six people. It was alleged that the driver had been driving for10-12 hours and did not see anything on the road that led to the accident. They informed a woman with her child and 2 pedestrians were standing on the road side were also hit in the accident and were declared dead on the spot.
Police investigation
Police officials present at the spot said that an investigation into the entire matter is underway. Efforts are being made to arrest the absconding bus driver, and legal action will be taken as per the investigation. Talking to the hospital official, it was informed that 2 dead bodies were received in the Civil hospital mortuary around 10:00 AM after a road accident and further details would be disclosed after post-partum