Pilgrims hurt in bus crash

A bus carrying around 30 devotees and pilgrims to Old Goa turned turtle near the captain of ports at Panaji, injuring 14 people. The bus had started off from Dona Paula and its occupants were heading for a novena mass, when the accident occured.

Police sources told TOI that the driver of the bus overtook another bus before he banged the vehicle at the barricade erected at the captain of port jetty, before it turn turtle. The accident took place at around 4.45am.

The fourteen injured pilgrims were immediately shifted in two 108 ambulances and private vehicles to the Goa medical college and hospital (GMC), for medical treatment. "All passengers had minor injuries, and after giving first aid, all passengers were discharged from the hospital," said police sources.

Immediately after the accident, the driver of the bus, Vikram Naik, escaped from the spot. Later, the police had to call the owner of the bus to arrest him.

"We have arrested the bus driver under section 279 and 337 of the Indian penal code (IPC), and later, he was released on bail," added police sources. [TOI]