On the morning of October 8, 2024, a private bus traveling on the GT Road (NH-44) collided with a stationary truck near Karnal due to extremely low visibility caused by a sudden blanket of fog. The impact resulted in injuries to 15 passengers, including several who were trapped in the front seats of the bus. Local residents and a highway patrol team carried out a rescue operation, using gas cutters to extricate the injured. The victims were rushed to the Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College (KCGMC) and other nearby private hospitals. The accident led to a brief traffic snarl on the Chandigarh-Delhi stretch, which was cleared after the damaged vehicles were moved using cranes.
NEWS ARTICLE KARNAL (October 8): As the “Gulabi Thand” transition brings the first major fog of the season to the plains, the GT Road has witnessed its first significant accident. A private bus, reportedly heading toward Delhi from Punjab, met with a severe accident during the early hours of Tuesday.
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The Collision: The accident occurred around 5:45 AM near the Madhuban area on the outskirts of Karnal. Visibility had reportedly dropped to less than 20 meters. The bus driver failed to notice a truck that had slowed down or stopped on the highway, ramming into its rear at a considerable speed.
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Rescue Efforts: The front portion of the bus was completely crushed under the impact. “We heard a deafening crash and rushed to the highway. Passengers were screaming for help, and many were covered in glass shards,” said a local dhaba worker. Police and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials arrived within 15 minutes to lead the rescue.
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Casualty Report:
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Injured: 15 passengers.
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Critical: 3 passengers, including the bus driver, are reported to be in critical condition with leg and chest injuries.
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Stability: The remaining 12 passengers were discharged after receiving first aid for minor cuts and bruises.
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Police Investigation: Preliminary investigations suggest that the truck may not have had functional taillights or reflective tape, which are mandatory for foggy conditions. A case has been registered against the truck driver for negligence, while the bus driver is also being questioned regarding the speed of the vehicle during low visibility.
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Traffic Impact: The accident caused a 2-km long traffic jam on the Chandigarh-Delhi side of the highway. It took nearly two hours for the police to restore normal traffic flow using heavy-duty cranes.
Safety Advisory: The Karnal traffic police have issued an urgent advisory for all commuters on NH-44. Drivers are requested to use fog lights, maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, and keep speeds below 40 kmph when visibility is poor. The department has also warned that a special drive will be launched to check reflective tapes on commercial vehicles starting tonight.
