Punjab: Bus ferrying migrant labourers to UP turns over near Khanna; driver held

LUDHIANA: 12 labourers suffered injuries when a private bus ferrying migrant labours to Uttar Pradesh from Jammu turned over near village Libra in Khanna early on Tuesday morning. After the incident the driver of the bus escaped, however he later was nabbed. Some onlookers called police, thereafter the injured were taken to hospital. According to police, the accused driver was taking migrant workers without any permit.
According to information about 50 passengers were travelling in the bus, which started from Kathua and was moving towards Uttar Pradesh. The police told that the incident occurred at around 4:30 AM.
Akhilesh Kumar, a native of Uttar Pradesh, said that they have boarded in the bus on Monday night. They were sleeping. All of the sudden they felt strong jolts and fell on each other. They realized that the bus was turned over. They cried for help and jumped out of windows. Meanwhile, police rushed the injured to hospital.
Another passenger Ram Yadav said that, each person has paid Rs 1,000 to bus driver to reach Uttar Pradesh. There were some migrants who hail from Bihar. They were supposed to get another vehicle from Uttar Pradesh to reach Bihar.
Inspector Jaspal Singh, SHO at police station Sadar of Khanna, said that two persons have suffered fractures who have been referred to Rajindera Hospital, Patiala, while other 10 passengers who have got minor injuries are admitted in Civil Hospital, Khanna.
He added, initially the bus driver had escaped form spot, however later the police nabbed him. The driver is identified as Rajendra Yadav of Rudarpur, Uttarakhand. The accused told that he took some migrants from Uttarakhand to Jammu. On his way back he boarded these UP, Bihar migrants. The accused had no permit to ferry labourers.
SHO added that, the accused told police that he fell asleep while driving bus. Thereafter the bus hit the driver and turned over. The police have registered a case against Rajendra Yadav under sections of 279 (Rash driving), 337 (causing hurt by endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 188 (disobedience to orders duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of IPC and under disaster management act.
Further the SHO added that the labourers have been sent to shelter homes. The officers will take decision to send the labourers to their native places.