Four persons, including three students, were killed and 13 injured after a school bus collided with a jeep near Singhpur village, around 75 km from here today, police said.
The incident occurred at around 8.30 AM when the bus carrying 20 students was on its way to the Cambridge International School in Dasuya, they said.
The jeep, laden with potatoes, coming from the opposite direction collided with the bus, killing three students and the bus driver on the spot, police said.
Of the 13 inured, four were referred to Shivam Hospital in Hoshiarpur and 9 were admitted to the Civil Hospital, a government spokesperson said.
The deceased were identified as Surbhi, her brother Anirudh, Tanish Sharma, all residents of Talwara town, and bus driver Ranjit Singh, a resident of Dehpur, police said.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh expressed deep shock over the incident and shared his heartfelt empathy with the members of the family of the deceased, an official release said.
The Chief Minister directed the civil and police administration to extend all help and support and ensure the best possible treatment to the injured free of charge, it said.
Punjab Education Minister Aruna Chaudhary condoled the deaths of the students and the bus driver in the incident and sought a report into the matter from the District Education Officer (DEO) in Hoshiarpur.
In a statement issued here, she said state Health Minister Brahm Mohindra has decided to provide free treatment to those injured in the accident.
Officials concerned have been instructed to provide all possible help to the families of victims at administrative level, Chaudhary said, adding she would direct all DEOs to instruct all schools to ensure the safe plying of buses carrying children, abide by traffic rules and keep the speed under control.
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