Stones hurled at Indore-Mum bus on highway, six injured

Barwani: Six people, including the bus driver and cleaner, were injured after unidentified miscreants allegedly pelted stones at a private passenger bus on the Agra-Mumbai National Highway in Barwani district late Thursday.

According to Julwania police station in-charge Saurabh Batham, the incident occurred near Bazaad Phata when the bus was travelling from Indore to Mumbai. Preliminary investigation suggests that two persons riding a motorcycle on the wrong side of the highway hurled stones at the moving vehicle.

One of the stones smashed the bus’s front windshield, sending shards of glass flying inside the driver’s cabin and injuring six occupants, including the driver and cleaner.

Police reached the spot after receiving information about the incident, shifted the injured for medical treatment and escorted the damaged bus to the police station. Despite the damage, the bus later resumed its journey to Mumbai.

Batham said the vehicle, which has a seating capacity of 23 passengers, was carrying more than 60 people at the time of the incident.

Bus driver Shyamlal said the stone struck with such force that the front windshield shattered completely. “Fortunately, no passenger suffered eye injuries. Had the bus lost control, hit another vehicle, crashed into the divider or veered off the road, the consequences could have been far more serious,” he said.

Farha, a passenger travelling from Indore to Mumbai who was seated in the cabin, said the incident triggered panic among passengers.

Police have registered a case and launched an investigation. CCTV footage from the area is being examined to identify and trace the accused. Batham said that the reason behind the stone pelting will be clear once the accused is arrested.