ZIRAKPUR / DERABASSI: A catastrophic road accident occurred in the early hours of Friday near Chhat Light Chowk when a high-speed private luxury bus carrying passengers from Manali to Delhi collided with a truck and overturned on the highway. The violent crash has left more than 20 passengers seriously injured, while several others sustained minor injuries.
The incident triggered a massive rescue operation and caused a gruelling two-hour traffic gridlock on the busy highway during morning peak hours.
The Midnight Collision
According to official sources, the private tourist bus was carrying approximately 45 passengers, most of whom were fast asleep when the accident occurred. As the bus approached Chhat Light Chowk, a speeding truck traveling from the Zirakpur side toward Patiala rammed violently into the vehicle.
The impact of the collision was so severe that the bus driver lost all control of the wheel, causing the massive vehicle to overturn and slide across the middle of the highway.
Swift Rescue Operations
The silence of the early morning was broken by the screams of trapped passengers. Recognizing the severity of the crash, local residents and personnel from the Road Safety Force (SSF) deployed on the highway rushed to the scene to initiate an immediate rescue operation.
Faced with jammed doors and twisted metal, rescuers shattered the windows of the overturned bus to pull out terrified and injured passengers from the wreckage.
Medical Emergency and Casualties
Ambulances rushed all the injured victims to the Civil Hospital in Derabassi for emergency first aid. However, due to the critical nature of their injuries, more than 20 patients were immediately referred to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Sector 32, Chandigarh.
Hospital sources indicate that the condition of several passengers remains critical, including a young man whose arm was severely crushed in the impact.
Traffic Chaos and Police Action
The overturned bus completely blocked the highway for nearly two hours, resulting in bumper-to-bumper traffic queues extending several kilometres on both sides. Hundreds of morning commuters and office-goers were left stranded.
A team from the Zirakpur Police station arrived at the spot to manage the situation. Using a heavy-duty hydraulic crane (Hydra), authorities managed to lift and clear both the mangled bus and the truck from the thoroughfare, slowly restoring normal traffic flow.
Local police officials confirmed that a formal case has been registered under relevant sections, and a detailed investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the high-speed collision and establish accountability.
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