Six people were killed and 21 others injured after a bus carrying devotees returning from a Baisakhi fair overturned in Punjab’s Fatehgarh Sahib district following a technical fault and collision with an electricity pole.
The accident took place late at night when the bus, carrying around 40 devotees, was returning from Anandpur Sahib after attending the Baisakhi fair and heading towards Main Majri village in Fatehgarh Sahib district. According to preliminary information, the bus developed a technical fault near Himmatpura village. The driver attempted to control the vehicle, but it went out of control, collided with a roadside electricity pole, and overturned.
Eyewitnesses reported that electricity passed through the bus immediately after it overturned, further complicating rescue efforts for passengers trapped inside.
Panic broke out at the scene following the accident. Due to the late hour, initial assistance was delayed, but nearby villagers reached the site and began rescue operations. Residents broke windows and opened doors to evacuate passengers trapped between seats and inside the overturned bus. Several individuals were freed through these efforts before emergency services arrived.
Police and administrative teams reached the site shortly after the incident.
A total of 21 injured persons were admitted to hospitals. Of these, 12 were taken to Morinda hospital and nine were admitted to a hospital in Fatehgarh Sahib. Those critically injured were referred to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) in Chandigarh for further treatment. Hospital sources said some of the injured remain in serious condition.
According to police officials, the bus was close to its destination at the time of the accident. Main Majri village was approximately 1.5 kilometres from the accident site.
Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Shubham Aggarwal said police teams reached the spot immediately after receiving information. He stated that local residents played a key role in the rescue operations and that arrangements were made during the night to transport the injured to hospitals.
Local residents said they were nearby when the accident occurred and rushed to the scene after hearing the sound of the bus overturning. They said passengers had resumed their journey shortly after a meal when the accident took place suddenly, leaving no time for reaction.
Villagers stated that ambulances arrived later, and initial rescue efforts were carried out by locals. They said that without timely intervention, the number of fatalities could have been higher.
All the victims were returning from a religious gathering held in Anandpur Sahib on the occasion of Baisakhi. The festival is an important occasion in Punjab and for the Sikh community, during which large numbers of devotees visit gurdwaras and religious sites annually.
Several political leaders and social organisations expressed condolences following the incident. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, in a social media message, expressed grief over the deaths of the devotees, prayed for peace for the deceased, and wished for the recovery of the injured.
The incident has raised concerns regarding road safety, technical inspection of public transport vehicles, and emergency response systems. Experts stated that long-distance buses should undergo regular technical checks, drivers should exercise caution during festival periods and heavy traffic conditions, emergency medical response should be expedited, and relief service networks in rural areas should be strengthened.
