One student, Mehakbir Singh Dhindsa (15), and van driver Harinder Singh (35) of Indus Public School died on the spot.

Mehakbir Singh Dhindsa (15), a student of Indus Public School and school bus driver Harinder Singh (35) died on the spot on Tuesday July 16, 2013 around 7:15 am near Mamupur, Kharar, Punjab, India in a unbelievable high speed collision.

Mehakbir Singh Dhindsa

Harpreet Singh (12), another student succumbed to his injuries the same day. Inderveer Singh, a student, was out of danger according to doctors at Kharar Civil Hospital. But Amanpreet Singh(11), brother of Harpreet, and Iqbalpreet Singh (13) were critically injured and were rushed to the PGI, Chandigarh.

It is a very sad incident and a horrible accident. I met Mehakbir Singh in January 2013 this year in Mamupur. He was a nephew of my brother-in-law Avtar Singh Dhindsa. He was a very gentle person and good student. He used to say to his parents that you don't have to worry about anything, now I can take care of it. He was very attached to my sister, Kamaljit Kaur Dhindsa, and she is deeply grieved. In January this year, Kamal and Avtar also went to India to attend marriage ceremony in Chandigarh. They live in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. We were all together in Mohali at my cousin Rachhpal Singh Buttar's residence. Since their village was not very far from Mohali, they used to stay at Mamupur at night. 

Just after 6 months now both have to go back to Mamupur, but this time Mehakbir is not there any more. It is heart sinking feeling for us when we think about him. It is hard to believe that he is not with us anymore. He was so nice and humble and very fond of tying turban with style. I talked to Dilbagh and Ramandeep  this evening over the phone. Few minutes after Mehakbir boarded his school bus, his parents heard a big bang and ran to the accident spot. Their gut feeling were right. The school bus was badly damaged and overturned. She asked the people to help to turnover the bus. The bus driver was hanging out of bus and she managed to pull him out. 

Then she looked for Mehakbir and she found him under the seat. His chest was smashed hard with the seat and was not breathing. She still pull him out and took him into her lap. She was hoping that Mehakbir may open his eyes any moment. But that never happened. She was brave enough to handle that traumatic process of taking Mehakbir out from the bus. Other students head was badly crushed with heavy impact of other passenger bus and the roll over of the school bus. 

Since bus suffered severe damage to the driver side front to the middle, it seems that school bus driver was taking a right turn from link road to main road. Since there was a blind curve, both bus drivers were at fault and responsible for this fatal accident. It is most likely that private passenger bus was over speeding and did not bother to slow down on the blind curve.

I pray to God that even though these young students were not at any fault and they have to pay heavy penalty especially to parents, give them place in His feet and strength to the families to withstand this loss.

Nothing could be done to revive them. They are gone. But their memories are with us. What could we do to pay them a tribute? What kind of tribute we should pay to them?

All I can say that please SLOW DOWN. One of the drivers were at fault? Either the school bus driver did not stop before merging into the main road or the public bus driver was driving too rash and carelessly. Mehakbir is not going to come back to us and neither Harpreet, Amanpreet and Iqbalpreet Singh are going to come back again among their parents and friends but certainly if we really care then at least we should avoid such incidents in future by slowing down.

Today's vehicles are very powerful and fast and some drivers do not understand that it is very important to keep speed under control so that such accidents could be avoided. Following proper traffic rules are so important and more over keeping patience on road is very crucial. 

Everything could not change in a day but Changing rash driving behaviour  and Careless driving behaviour can save a lot of unwanted traffic fatalities. Driving rash and carelessly is a crime and causes lot of fatalities. 

For the sake of these humble souls, please SLOW DOWN and drive responsibly. We love you Mehakbir and always remember you. Good Bye to you and your schoolmates with soaking eyes and heavy heart. I request to people of Punjab that if you see anybody over speeding, call the traffic police and inform them. You may be thinking that your call is not going to change anything, but just imagine that you informrd the police about this over speeding bus and say as usual police did not bother to take any action and few minutes later this accident happens. There are good chances that along with bus driver the concerned traffic control room would also be responsible for this accident. Concerned police officers could be suspended for not taking any action.

Once few police officers get suspended, there are good chances that police will try to slow down the traffic to ensure traffic safety. At least give it a try. Your call may save lot of lives. So don't ignore over speeding buses and other vehicles. Report it for the sake of these innocent students who lost their lives for nothing. Charity begins at home. Who knows, your initiative may bring a revolution in traffic safety in Punjab and may decrease the traffic fatalities.