Bilaspur (Gurpreet Singh): A pilgrimage journey turned tragic late Sunday night when a bus carrying devotees from Punjab overturned near Shahtalai in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district, leaving two people dead and 13 others injured, officials said.
The bus, carrying over 35 pilgrims, was returning to Amritsar after the group had visited the revered Baba Balak Nath Temple at Deotsidh. The accident occurred at around 10:30 p.m., when the vehicle reportedly lost control while negotiating a stretch of road near Shahtalai before overturning.
Authorities said one of the victims was a pilgrim travelling on the bus, while the second was a pedestrian who was hit after the vehicle veered off the road. Both died due to the impact of the accident.
The crash triggered panic among passengers, prompting local residents to rush to the spot and assist in rescue efforts. Police teams and officials from the district administration also reached the scene shortly after receiving information and helped evacuate those trapped inside the damaged bus.
The injured were initially taken to the nearby Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Shahtalai, but as the facility was not operational at the time, they were shifted to the Civil Hospital in Barsar for treatment.
Medical officials said nine injured passengers are receiving treatment at Barsar Civil Hospital. Of the remaining victims, two critically injured individuals have been referred to PGIMER, Chandigarh, while two others have been shifted to Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College in Hamirpur for specialised care.
Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the accident. Officials said the exact cause of the crash has not yet been established, and all possible factors, including the condition of the vehicle, road surface and driver-related issues, are being examined.
The district administration confirmed that rescue operations have concluded and assured that all necessary medical assistance is being provided to the injured. Authorities are also extending support to the affected families.
The incident has once again raised concerns over the safety of buses travelling on hilly roads, especially during night hours. Officials have urged transport operators to exercise extra caution while navigating mountainous routes and to ensure that vehicles are in proper mechanical condition before undertaking long-distance journeys.
