Muktsar Sahib, September 19 Five people have died and 35 passengers have been rescued after a Newdeep company bus carrying 45 passengers fell into the Sirhind Canal through the twin canals passing near village Jhabelwali on the Muktsar-Kotakpura road. In the meantime, there is news that the rest of the riders got swept away in the canal.

According to the information received, due to hitting the iron angles on the canal bridge, half of the bus fell into the canal while the other half remained outside on the bridge. When this incident came to know, people reached there in large numbers. There Deputy Commissioner Dr. Administrative officials along with Ruhi Dug also reached the spot and took out the passengers from the bus.

On getting information about the incident, Punjab Cabinet Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian and MLA Kaka Brar reached the spot and took stock of the incident. Action was being taken to evacuate the bus.

SSP Harmanbir Gill has confirmed five deaths. He said that there were a total of 45 passengers in the bus, out of which 35 have been rescued and those who got swept away are being searched for. A control room has been established by the district administration regarding the road accident in Sri Muktsar Sahib district.

It may be mentioned here that earlier also in 1992, the bus of Punjab Roadways Sri Muktsar Sahib fell into this canal, in which about 80 passengers including children died. A toll plaza has also been set up on this road, but the toll collectors have not yet constructed a new canal bridge, while the toll is in operation.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has expressed regret over the sad news of a private bus falling into a canal on the Muktsar-Kotakpura road. He said through a tweet that the administration teams are present at the spot and they are getting the moment-to-moment information about the rescue operations. He wished everyone good health before God and said to share the rest of the details soon.