A shocking crash in Banga
In the early hours of Monday, a Volvo coach loaded with 41 tourists travelling from Manali to Amritsar lost control on a flyover near Mazari village and tumbled onto the service road below. The incident, reported at roughly 4:40 a.m., sent tremors through the quiet town of Banga, Punjab.
Fatalities and the wounded
The collision claimed four lives. Among the deceased were Josna George, a student from Kerala studying at Lovely Professional University, chartered accountant Vishal Rattu of Amritsar, and Aditya Gautam from Ludhiana. The identity of the fourth victim is still being verified.
Sixteen passengers suffered serious injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals. Police later transferred the critically injured to better‑equipped facilities in Banga. The remaining 21 travelers escaped with minor or no injuries and were escorted from the scene with their belongings.
Rescue effort and police action
Local law‑enforcement, led by Banga DSP Harjit Singh Randhawa, responded within minutes of the first emergency call. Rescue teams pried open the wrecked bus, freeing trapped passengers and securing personal effects. The injured were loaded onto ambulances and taken to medical centres, while the bodies of Josna George and Vishal Rattu were handed over to their families after post‑mortem examinations. The other remains are stored at the Shivpuri Baba Gola mortuary.
Driver detained and probe opened
Authorities arrested the driver, Vivek Kumar of Sharna village, Balh (Ratti) in Himachal Pradesh. A case has been lodged against him under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, with investigators examining whether driver fatigue or another form of negligence caused the bus to veer off the flyover.
Police are also reviewing CCTV footage, eyewitness accounts, and the vehicle’s mechanical condition to reconstruct the chain of events that led to the tragic fall.
Aftermath and community response
Banga’s residents remain in mourning as families await further information. The disaster has revived calls for stricter safety inspections of tourist buses and for reinforced driver‑alertness measures on high‑speed routes.
