Bus full of passengers hangs off bridge in northern India: chaotic rescue ensues
by Aditi VermaA roadways bus narrowly avoided disaster when it overturned and hung precariously off an underpass pillar in northern India’s Uttarakhand, causing panic among passengers and prompting a swift local rescue effort.
The incident took place near Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar District on July 14.
Visuals showed an overturned bus lying below a bridge, with injured passengers desperately trying to escape through the windows. Women and children trapped inside were screaming, while nearby locals rushed to assist. A large crowd gathered on the bridge above, watching the chaos unfold. The bus had flipped onto one side, and people were climbing out from the upper section that remained accessible. The impact was so severe that the tyres were still spinning. The scene was filled with panic and urgency as rescuers worked quickly to free everyone from the wreckage.
According to reports a UP Roadways bus traveling to Dehradun lost control and overturned on a bridge, dangling dangerously over an underpass pillar. The mishap led to chaos as children cried and women panicked. Locals rushed to the scene, first helping children and women escape through windows, followed by the other passengers.
The bus driver, Naresh, sustained a fracture in his hand, while five other passengers were injured. A woman with serious spinal injuries was transferred to AIIMS Rishikesh. Additionally, a car belonging to Delhi passengers was severely damaged by the bus.
Police reported that the bus, carrying 25 people, had departed Haridwar Bus Stand around 4 PM on Sunday. Near CCR and Pant Deep Parking Cut, driver Naresh lost control, resulting in the bus overturning and hanging off the underpass pillar. This caused widespread panic, with many fearing the bus had fallen into the Ganges due to the proximity of several bridges.
Swift action by nearby residents and police officers from the Road Belwala outpost, including Officer Yashveer Negi, facilitated the timely rescue of the passengers. A crane was later brought in to remove the bus from the scene.
Injured passengers identified include Divya from Dehradun, Suman from Haridwar, Naresh from Noorpur Bijnor, Aarti Dhyani, and Anusuya Dhyani from Shyampur Rishikesh, with Suman being transferred to AIIMS Rishikesh for further treatment.