Kullu: A major accident was narrowly avoided on the Chandigarh-Manali four-lane highway on Friday morning after a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus rammed into a road divider near Hathithan Chowk in Bhuntar, Kullu district.
According to preliminary reports, the bus was travelling from Jammu to Manali and was on its way to a workshop for routine inspection. Before heading for maintenance, all passengers had reportedly been shifted to another bus, leaving only the driver and conductor onboard.
Officials said the accident occurred when the driver allegedly tried to avoid an oncoming vehicle near Hathithan Chowk. In the process, he lost control of the bus, which veered off its path and crashed into the divider.
The collision caused substantial damage to the front portion of the bus. However, both the driver and conductor escaped without injuries.
The incident attracted a large number of local residents and commuters, who gathered at the spot soon after the crash. Police and other authorities reached the scene and initiated an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Officials noted that the absence of passengers at the time of the crash played a crucial role in preventing what could have turned into a major tragedy on one of Himachal Pradesh’s busiest highways.
Police are investigating the incident and examining all factors, including road conditions and the presence of the oncoming vehicle, to determine the exact cause of the accident.
