As dense smog engulfed many parts of Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday, nine persons were killed in Punjab’s Bathinda after they were run over by a truck on the Bathinda-Chandigarh highway.
The weather department has forecast dense fog conditions for next few days and respite is expected only by next week.
Eight of the nine killed in the accident were students while one was a government employee.
Bathinda SSP Naveen Singla said the deceased were waiting to catch a bus when a truck ploughed through them after it hit a SUV. “There was dense fog in the morning hours and visibility was quite low, which could be a reason for the accident,” he added.
In a separate accident on the same route, a State transport bus and minibus collided, leaving one woman dead and 14 others injured.
India Meteorological Department said that dense to very dense fog was observed at most places over Punjab and at many places over Haryana and Chandigarh.
The visibility was recorded below 500 metres at Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala in Punjab and Ambala and Hissar in Haryana.