Mehatpur/Una, June 6 (Rajveer Chopra): A bus carrying pilgrims was struck by a truck loaded with iron rods near Mehatpur—the gateway to Una district—on the Punjab border on Friday.
Six pilgrims on board were injured in the accident, while all other passengers remained safe. The injured were taken to the Regional Hospital in Una for treatment and were discharged after receiving first aid.
According to reports, the bus was carrying approximately 50 pilgrims from the Jaipur region of Rajasthan. They were returning to Rajasthan after visiting the shrines of Mata Vaishno Devi, Maa Chintpurni, and Jwalaji. While passing through the Punjab border area near Mehatpur, a protruding iron rod from a truck loaded with such rods tore through the bus windows. This damaged the bus and injured some of the pilgrims inside.
Following the accident, locals and passersby immediately initiated relief and rescue efforts and helped transport the injured to the hospital. The bus driver, Jagdish Prasad—a resident of Jaipur—stated that the truck driver fled the scene after the accident.
Police arrived at the site upon receiving information about the incident and launched an investigation. ASI Yadvinder Singh of the Naya Nangal police post stated that statements from the injured are being recorded and a search for the absconding truck driver is underway. He added that further legal action would be taken in accordance with the law once the investigation is complete.