Pilgrims from MP have lucky escape in Uttarakhand

Dehradun, July 26 (IANS) Over 50 passengers on board a bus had a providential escape when their vehicle was on the verge of being swept away in surging waters of a seasonal rivulet in Uttarakhand on Tuesday, police said.

The incident took place on the Bairaj-Cheela road between Rishikesh and Haridwar when the bus carrying pilgrims from Indore in Madhya Pradesh was struck by water gushing down from a hill while crossing the inundated road.

In no time the bus started slipping into the rivulet but was luckily struck a boulder and was prevented from being swept away in the strong current.

Passers-by rescued the passengers by breaking the emergency window of the bus. The passengers included over two dozen women. Police pulled out the bus from the rivulet bed after three hours with the help of a JCB.