Four pilgrims from Punjab including a woman were killed and several others were injured on Friday when an overloaded truck in which they were traveling overturned in Himachal Pradesh’s Una district.
The accident took place when the truck overturned near Dera Baba Vadbhag Singh shrine, some 175 km from Shimla. The pilgrims were returning to Punjab after paying obeisance at popular Sikh shrine in Mairi area of Amb Subdivision of district Una. An official informed that some of the injured were admitted to the district hospital at Una. The devotees belonged to Tarn Taran district.
The officials informed that the cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained. It is informed that the truck was overloaded and was carrying more than fifty passengers in two decks, of which 4 have died on the spot while 13 were critical and other 34 passengers were injured. According to the police officials, the truck was converted into a double-decker by fitting wooden planks so that more passengers could be accommodated.
Though it is illegal, double-decker trucks carrying passengers is a common sight in Himachal Pradesh, especially during religious festivals. In 2010 too, three devotees belonging to Tarn Taran were killed and 47 injured when their truck overturned. At that time also they were returning after paying obeisance at the Dera Baba Vadbhag Singh shrine.