Amritsar: Ten persons, including women and children, were killed and at least 15 others injured when a rashly driven private bus collided with a gharuka (motorised cart) on Mehta-Amritsar road near Chogawan village late on Wednesday evening.
All deceased--six women, three men and a seven-year-old-girl--were reportedly travelling in the “gharuka”.
A modified carrier run on a diesel engine, the ‘gharooka' is notorious for carrying passengers far more than its capacity. The vehicle is a popular mode of transport in rural Punjab.
The injured have been admitted to Sri Guru Ram Dass Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Vallah, and Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar.
Police said a total of 25 people were travelling in the ‘gharuka'.The collision resulted in the on-the-spot death of nine people.
The police said four persons died on the spot and five while being taken to hospital. Later, one person succumbed to injuries in hospital.
Furious mob set the bus on fire after asking the passengers to alight. Police were yet to identify the deceased.
