KANGRA: Seventeen passengers were injured, four of them critically, when a tourist bus carrying Amarnath pilgrims overturned on National Highway 44 (NH-44) in the Damtal area of Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district late Sunday night.
The vehicle, owned by Laxmi Holidays, was carrying a total of 57 pilgrims and was heading from Katra to Dehradun when the driver lost control, causing the bus to flip on the road.
Following the crash, local residents rushed to the spot to initiate rescue operations. Police and health department teams arrived shortly after receiving information about the incident.
All injured passengers were initially taken to the Community Health Centre in Indora. After receiving first aid, four passengers who sustained severe injuries were referred to the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College and Hospital in Tanda for specialized treatment.
According to eyewitnesses, Dr. Vivek Singh, the Chancellor of Arni University, was passing through the route at the time of the accident. He stopped his vehicle and joined the rescue efforts alongside his colleagues. On his directions, the university’s ambulance and a medical team reached the site to assist the police and health officials in transporting the victims to the hospital.
The driver and conductor of the bus fled the spot immediately after the accident. The Damtal police have registered a case under the Motor Vehicles Act and launched a hunt to trace the absconding duo.
A preliminary investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash, with police investigating whether it was triggered by a technical snag, driver negligence, or other factors. Officials stated that necessary legal action will be taken against those responsible once the probe concludes.
