New Delhi, March 25 (NationPress) Tragically, two individuals lost their lives, and 23 others sustained injuries when a tourist sleeper bus overturned in the Karol Bagh area of Delhi early Wednesday morning. Many passengers reported that the driver was both intoxicated and speeding at the time of the incident.

The driver, a 26-year-old named Pankaj Kumar from Alwar, Rajasthan, has been taken into custody and is receiving treatment at Lady Hardinge Medical College.

Officials disclosed that a PCR call was made around 1:05 a.m. to the Karol Bagh Police Station, reporting that a sleeper bus had overturned near the Jhandewalan Metro Station and Hanuman Mandir in the Chambery area, resulting in multiple injuries.

The bus, which had the registration number RJ-14PE-5065, was a tourist sleeper coach with a capacity for around 70 passengers. It was en route from Jaipur to Fatehpuri in Delhi's Sadar Bazar area, carrying approximately 30 passengers at the time of the accident.

Survivors recounted a terrifying sequence of events leading up to the crash.

One injured passenger recounted to IANS, "When he suddenly took a sharp turn, the vehicle flipped over. We heard the conductor say that the brakes had failed. The driver consumed alcohol after entering Delhi. As soon as we arrived in Delhi, he started drinking. At a roundabout, he made a sharp turn, and the bus immediately overturned."

Recalling the moments following the crash, she added, "When the bus flipped, everyone prioritized saving the children first. When help began to arrive, they assisted in getting the children out safely, who only had minor injuries. However, several individuals were in critical condition as they were trapped beneath the bus."

Another passenger asserted, "The driver was intoxicated, and the bus was speeding over 100 km/hr."

A third passenger echoed similar sentiments, stating, "The driver was driving recklessly, and even while on the highway, the bus engine stalled multiple times. After entering Delhi, he began drinking. There were 30 people on the bus, and some had already disembarked before the bus overturned."

Police officials reported that shortly after the incident was reported, the Station House Officer of Karol Bagh, along with staff from the Ajmal Khan Road picket and night patrol teams, arrived at the scene. They discovered the overturned bus with numerous passengers trapped inside, crying out for assistance.

"Demonstrating quick thinking and promptness, Ct. Rohit flagged down a passing JCB. The police team, along with civilians, carefully lifted the bus slightly and secured it using heavy roadside cement blocks. An immediate rescue operation was initiated," the police stated in a report.

Around ten critically injured passengers were the first to be extracted and transported to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital using available ambulances. Additional police teams, including ACP under-trainee Bhanupriya, ACP Karol Bagh, SHO Prasad Nagar, and SHO Nabi Karim, later joined the operation to assist in rescuing the remaining passengers, including women and children.

In total, 23 injured individuals were transported to various hospitals—12 to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, where two men tragically succumbed to their injuries, 10 to Ganga Ram Hospital, and one to Lady Hardinge Medical College.

One of the deceased has been identified as Shehbaj Alam, a 30-year-old resident of Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh. The identity of the second victim, estimated to be around 25 to 26 years old, remains unconfirmed, with efforts underway to establish it.

The investigation is being led by Sub-Inspector Trilok, who is gathering statements and medical details of the injured from the respective hospitals.

Officials indicated that necessary legal action will be taken against the driver once the inquiry is completed.