At least five dead, 30 injured after two buses carrying pilgrims collide in Punjab’s Tarn Taran
One of the deceased was the driver of a bus, while two pilgrims and a woman riding a motorcycle were also killed in the collision.
- ✓One of the deceased was the driver of a bus, while two pilgrims and a woman riding a motorcycle were also killed in the collision.
- ✓Of the 30 injured pilgrims, 18 are reported to be in critical condition.
- ✓Civic Domain: Categorized under states public notices.
At least five people, including one bus driver and two pilgrims, were killed on the spot, while 29 were injured in a horrific head-on collision between two buses operating under the Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra scheme on National Highway 54, near Naushehra Pannuan village in Punjab's Tarn Taran district, on Saturday.
Of the 30 injured pilgrims, 18 are reported to be in critical condition. Four people have died in a road accident in Punjab's Tarn Taran. (HT Photo)A woman riding on the motorcycle was also reportedly killed. The condition of a young boy travelling with her remains unconfirmed.
Six injured people were taken to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Amritsar, for treatment where they are said to be in a stable condition and out of danger. Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann expressed grief over the accident, saying he was deeply saddened by the loss of lives.
In a post on X, Mann said the police and administration were engaged in relief operations at the site and that officials had been directed to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured. According to preliminary reports, one of the buses was returning to Faridkot district, carrying pilgrims from Lahiridas and Baghiari villages, after completing a pilgrimage.
Eyewitnesses said the tragedy unfolded when a motorcycle carrying a woman and a young boy attempted to cross the highway through a cut near Naushehra Pannuan. To avoid hitting the motorcyclists, the driver of the oncoming Faridkot-bound bus swerved sharply and crossed into the opposite lane.
The bus collided head-on with another Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra bus, which was travelling from Bheediwal village in the Lambi Assembly constituency towards Amritsar. The impact was so severe that both vehicles were badly mangled.
The Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra scheme is an initiative of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government that provides elderly residents with free pilgrimage trips to religious destinations. Local residents and shopkeepers rushed to the spot to rescue trapped passengers and alert the authorities.
Simar Kaur, a local resident who assisted in the rescue operations, said that several passengers had lost their lives at the scene. Several political and local leaders rushed to the accident site, including Aam Aadmi Party chairmen Harman Singh Maini, Jaskaran Singh Gill and Gurdial Singh Marhana, along with senior Congress leaders and former MLA Harminder Singh Gill and Angad Singh Sohel.
SSP Surendra Lamba, along with other senior officials, also rushed to the spot. However, no official statement on the accident had been issued by the authorities at the time of writing. Surjit Singh is a correspondent. He covers politics and agriculture, besides religious affairs and Indo-Pak border in Amritsar and Tarn Taran.
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| Issuing Authority | Hindustan Times India |
|---|---|
| Topic Category | STATES |
| Jurisdiction | All India / National |
| Publication Date | 14 November 2026 |