Bus carrying 53 passengers stuck in river, all rescued

HARIDWAR/BIJNOR: A bus carrying 53 passengers, en route from Nepal to Haridwar, was caught in the raging waters of the Kotawala river near Chidiyapur police check post, under Shyampur police station, in the early hours of Friday when the water level in the river suddenly rose, causing the bus to become stranded. All passengers were rescued by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).

Mandawali station house officer Ravindra Kumar Dabas said, "The incident occurred due to incessant rains, which flooded the small bridge connecting Bijnor to Haridwar. The bus descended from the bridge to take the river route and ended up stranded in the river. The passengers were all labourers in the age group of 20-45."

"The bus took the river route as heavy vehicles were not allowed to pass through the bridge over Kotwala river," said Dhasmana.