Karnal, 25 August:- 16-tyre truck full of devotees from Karnal overturned into ditch in Una, Himachal. At the time of accident, more than 52 devotees were travelling in the truck, who had left from Indri in Karnal for darshan of Peernigah and Maa Naina Devi temple. After darshan and bhandara at Peernigah, the group had left for Naina Devi, but just before the temple on the downhill slope, the truck driver lost control over the vehicle. As soon as the truck overturned into the ditch, screams broke out on the spot. All devotees travelling in the truck have been injured in the accident, while four seriously injured have been referred to PGI Chandigarh after primary treatment.
All devotees who met with the accident are said to be residents of Ward No. 6 and 7 of Indri in Karnal district. According to local people, Bhagat Pappu organizes this pilgrimage every year taking devotees. Under this religious pilgrimage, this time also a large number of people had gone to Himachal. Local people said that Pappu has built his religious place in Ward No. 6 of Indri and the devotees injured in the accident are his followers. In August last year also, Pappu had taken a group of devotees to Himachal.
According to information, on Saturday night around 10 pm, Bhagat Pappu had left for Himachal with devotees in a 16-tyre truck. First the group reached the Peernigah religious place in Una, where bhandara was organized.
On Tuesday, after having darshan at Peernigah, devotees left for Maa Naina Devi temple. As soon as they reached about two kilometers ahead of Peernigah on the downhill slope, the driver lost control of the truck. After this the truck went out of control and overturned into ditch below the road. After the accident, there was screaming at the spot. Local people present nearby immediately reached the accident site and started rescue work. People took out the devotees trapped in the truck and informed the police.
After this, with the help of ambulances, all injured were taken to Regional Hospital Una. After primary treatment, doctors referred four seriously injured to PGI Chandigarh. On getting information about the accident, Una police reached the spot and took the truck into custody and started investigation. In preliminary information, the reason for the accident is being told as driver losing control of vehicle on downhill. However, the actual reason for the accident will be clear only after police investigation is completed. Police is interrogating truck driver and eyewitnesses.