FEROZEPUR, July 20: A tragedy was averted at 8.45 am today on the bank of Rajasthan canal, near police post Bharana, Ferozepur Zira road, when a Sri Ganganagar bound Punjab Roadways bus No. 8912 (that was packed with passengers) coming from Patti district, Amritsar, turned turtle on the canal bank, when a speeding truck overtook the bus near the canal bridge.Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ferozepur range, K. L. Lekhi, who rushed to the spot, personally supervised the rescue operation on the canal bank. While talking to ENS, he said here today that the steel railing on the roadside over the canal had stopped the bus from falling into the fast flowing canal water. Lekhi said, that the bus that was packed remained dangling over the canal for more than an hour. Luckily, he said the doors of the bus were closed and so all the passengers were saved. He said the passengers were gradually taken out of the bus by the police and the villagers. The DIG said that it was a miraculous escape for the 50 passengers.Bus driver Massa Singh, conductor, Amar Singh, roadways storekeeper, Ram Parkash and chief inspector Punjab Roadways Rachhpal Singh, who were injured seriously have been admitted to the local hospitals and are out of danger. The DIG informed that 22 other passengers were also injured. Roadways officials had brought a crane to retrieve the dangling bus back to the road.
