A thick blanket of fog on Thursday morning led to a serious collision between two school buses on Kurali Road in Kharar, Mohali, resulting in injuries to five individuals, including three students. The incident has raised urgent concerns about road safety during the winter fog season.
Accident Details and Immediate Aftermath
The crash occurred in the early hours when visibility was severely compromised. Preliminary information from the police suggests that one of the buses was travelling on the wrong side of the highway. The impact of the collision injured both bus drivers and three children who were passengers.
All injured persons were swiftly transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Medical sources reported that one driver suffered a leg fracture, while the other sustained a head injury requiring stitches. Among the three children, two received first aid and were discharged, while one student was kept under medical observation as a precaution before being released later. Doctors have confirmed that all patients are now in stable condition.
Investigation and Official Response
Police have initiated a formal inquiry to determine the exact sequence of events. The drivers' statements have not yet been recorded as they were declared medically unfit to provide them. Eyewitnesses and local residents consistently cited the dense fog as a major contributing factor, drastically reducing drivers' ability to see oncoming traffic.
In response to the accident, Mohali Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal announced special instructions. "We have directed police, NHAI, and PWD to install reflective tapes and stickers at vulnerable points that are prone to dense fog," Mittal stated. This measure aims to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
School Coordination and Separate Fatal Accident
Following the collision, staff from both schools quickly arrived at the scene. They coordinated with police and medical teams to assist the injured students and ensure their safe return home. The school authorities also promptly informed the parents of the affected children.
In a separate and tragic road incident in Mohali, a 26-year-old woman, Pallavi Thakur, lost her life on Wednesday evening. She and her father, Nirmal Singh, were returning to Kharar from Chandigarh on their motorcycle when a tractor hit them from behind near Sector 91. Nirmal Singh sustained minor injuries, but Pallavi succumbed to her injuries at Phase-6 Civil Hospital. The tractor driver fled the scene. Sohana police have registered a case against the unidentified driver under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
