Patiala also saw a serious road accident on Thursday morning when a Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) bus skidded out of control and rammed into a tree close to Faridpur village, Nabha. The bus was designed to hold 52 persons but was allegedly carrying more than 120 passengers when the accident occurred.
As reported by eyewitnesses, the bus was filled with students and other passengers.
School students were present in the bus as the schools and colleges reopened.
At about 8 AM, the driver lost control, and the bus crashed into a roadside tree with. The impact was so strong that the tree itself got crushed onto the bus, causing injuries to the passengers.
Locals rushed to the scene and rescue efforts were conducted on the spot, with most injured persons being taken to nearby hospitals in private cars and ambulances. The bus was severely damaged in the accident.
Initial reports suggest that 15–20 passengers sustained injuries, with many suffering broken legs. Around four passengers are said to be serious, including the bus driver. At least four ambulances and residents helped transport the injured to hospitals.
An audio clip allegedly from the bus driver, Maninder Singh, has gone viral on social media. In the recording, he complains of being pressured to carry more passengers than capacity.
The driver also hinted that he would approach the court against those pressuring transport staff.
Bus conductor Gurinder Singh claimed that the vehicle had technical issues right from the start, as it had to be pushed to get moving. Shortly after leaving Khanoda, the bus reportedly lost balance before hitting the tree. He stated that it appeared to be a suspension spring failure which caused the accident.
SHO Jaspreet Singh of Bhadason police station confirmed that the accident occurred around 8 AM:
He started that the bus went out of control and hit a tree. Around six people have been reported injured. There has been no loss of life. Statements of passengers and injured are being recorded, and action will be taken accordingly.
Meanwhile, officials say a detailed probe will determine whether negligence, overloading, or vehicle failure was responsible.