What Happened in the Sleeper Bus-Truck Crash in Rajasthan's Sikar?
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Jaipur, Dec 10 (NationPress) In a tragic incident involving a sleeper bus and a fast-moving truck, four individuals lost their lives, and 28 others sustained injuries near Fatehpur on the Jaipur-Bikaner National Highway.
The collision occurred late on Tuesday night. Local witnesses reported that the rescue operation was particularly challenging, as numerous passengers found themselves trapped under seats and mangled metal debris.
Three victims died at the scene, while an injured bus conductor passed away during treatment in Jaipur on Wednesday morning.
The deceased included bus passenger Mayank, driver Kamlesh, and an unidentified individual. Conductor Mitesh, who was transported from SK Hospital in Sikar to Jaipur in a critical state, also succumbed to his injuries.
All passengers hailed from Valsad (Gujarat) and were returning from a pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi, en route to Khatu Shyamji.
There were approximately 50 individuals on board. Eyewitness accounts indicated that the sleeper bus was heading from Bikaner to Jaipur, while the truck was moving from Jhunjhunu towards Bikaner.
The two vehicles collided head-on, resulting in a significant impact that severely damaged the bus.
Passengers seated in the front and nearby areas suffered the worst injuries, with shards of glass and metal piercing their bodies. Police and local residents quickly initiated a rescue effort, extricating trapped passengers from the wreckage. Multiple ambulances transported the injured to local hospitals.
The wrecked bus was subsequently removed by crane to restore the flow of traffic on the highway.
Ambulance driver Bhim Singh, one of the first responders, recounted, "Upon receiving the call on Tuesday night, we could hear screams everywhere. We promptly contacted the 108 ambulance service. With assistance from locals, we rescued trapped passengers and transported them to the Fatehpur government hospital."
Sikar's Additional Superintendent of Police (SP) Tejpal Singh confirmed the fatalities, noting that 15 passengers were critically injured and referred to Sikar for advanced treatment. Officials reported that the condition of two to three injured individuals remains precarious.
Singh stated that rescue and medical response teams acted swiftly to transport the injured to hospitals.