Expressing shock and grief over the tragic road accident in which 10 people, including eight students, were killed, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday directed local MlA and Finance Minister Manpreet Badal to rush to Bathinda to oversee the rescue and relief operations.
At the same time, he ordered issuance of strict guidelines to bus drivers for driving their vehicles in fog conditions.
Capt Amarinder has also directed Manpreet Badal to ensure the best possible treatment, free of cost, to those injured in the mishap, besides ordering the civil and police authorities in the district to extend all help to the families of the victims.
Expressing concern over the spate of fatal accidents triggered by dense fog in the state over the past few days, Capt Amarinder has directed Punjab Roadways and PRTC to issue detailed guidelines to the drivers to be extra vigilant and cautious while driving buses in the prevailing weather conditions. He also issued strict instructions to the Traffic Police department to maintain strict round-the-clock surveillance on both national and state highways to ensure the safety of commuters.
Chief Minister has also asked the state police chief to convene a special meeting with the traffic wing to take all possible preventive measures to avert such mishaps by installing reflectors, especially on the sharp curves and narrow bridges, along with fog lights and blinkers.
He also directed the state DGP Suresh Arora to issue instructions to the traffic and the district police that all stalled vehicles should be towed away from roads and highways at the earliest.