Five Dead, Over Two Dozen Injured as Bus Plunges Into Canal in Punjab's Faridkot

Chandigarh, February 18 – At least five passengers lost their lives, and more than 24 others sustained injuries when a private bus fell into a canal in Punjab’s Faridkot district on Tuesday morning.

The tragic accident occurred around 8 AM on the Faridkot-Kotkapura road when the bus, carrying 36 passengers, was traveling from Muktsar to Amritsar.

According to initial reports, the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, causing it to plunge 10 feet off a bridge into the canal below. Some eyewitnesses claimed that the bus first collided with a truck before veering off the bridge.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pragya Jain confirmed the fatalities and injuries, stating that 26 passengers were admitted to Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital in Faridkot, while two critically injured individuals were referred to another hospital in Amritsar. Among the injured, one passenger lost a limb due to the impact of the crash.

Authorities have set up a help desk at the hospital to assist the victims' families. The police are investigating the exact cause of the accident.