Bus, truck gutted after head-on collision

NEW DELHI: A truck and chartered bus caught fire after a head-on collision around 1.30am on Friday near the Delhi Gate traffic light. One of the helpers in the truck was injured and admitted to the LNJP Hospital. Ten lambs, which were being carried to the Ghazipur Mandi from Rajasthan, died after the truck caught fire. The drivers of both the vehicles, however, managed to escape. The cops had a difficult time searching for approximately 100 lambs, which ran helter-skelter to escape the flames. A case of death due to rash and negligent driving has been registered at the Daryaganj police station.According to the investigating officer, thetruck took a turn from the Ring Road towards Delhi Gate and was about to take aturn towards Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg. The chartered bus which was coming fromthe LNJP Hospital also wanted to turn towards Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg. "Both thevehicles collided and the truck overturned. The bus, which was running on CNG,caught fire first. The fire soon spread to the truck as well. Both the vehicleswere severely damaged before the fire brigade could arrive on the scene andbring the blaze under control," he said. Motorists who were passing by calledpolice. "The moment the lambs were released there was completepandemonium as about 100 lambs got scattered all over Daryaganj. It took over 50cops and three hours to locate the lambs," said an officer adding that the copshave contacted the owners of both the vehicles and asked them to join theinvestigations.