Boulders Crash onto HRTC Bus: Windshield Shattered, Stone Reaches Steering; Major Accident Averted

Rajgarh, August 17:
A Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus traveling from Bijmal to Solan narrowly escaped a major accident on Saturday evening when a large boulder rolled down a hillside and crashed through its front windshield near Bagheda Nala, close to Neripul on the Sirmaur-Solan border. At the time of the incident, the Solan depot bus (HP 63-9865) was carrying around 20–25 passengers.

An 11-year-old boy sustained injuries in the incident and was rushed to a hospital. Panic gripped the passengers as the boulder, moving at high speed, smashed through the glass and struck the steering, damaging it.

Fortunately, driver Kamal Kumar acted swiftly and applied the brakes in time, bringing the bus safely under control. He immediately rescued the injured child and ensured all passengers were shifted to a safe spot. Later, the passengers were accommodated in a Rohru-bound bus arriving from behind.

Eyewitnesses said the spot is a known sliding point. A heavily loaded truck ahead of the bus had slowed down its speed, which proved crucial in preventing a more serious mishap.

Speaking to MBM News Network, Solan Regional Manager (RM) Surender Rajput said, “The accident occurred around 4 pm. A stone broke through the windshield and entered the bus, but thanks to the driver’s alertness, a major tragedy was averted. The relief was that the bus did not veer off the road.”