Chandigarh: Expressing shock and grief over the tragic road accident In which 10 people, including eight students, were killed, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday directed local MLA and Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal to rush to Bathinda to oversee the rescue and relief operations, even as he ordered issuance of strict guidelines to bus drivers for driving their vehicles in fog conditions. 

According to an official spokesperson, Captain Amarinder has also directed Manpreet Badal to ensure the best possible treatment, free of cost, to those injured in the mishap, and ordered the civil and police authorities in the district to extend all help to the families of the victims. The Chief Minister has further announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50000 to each of the injured. 

Expressing concern over the spate of fatal accidents triggered by dense fog in the state over the past few days, Captain Amarinder directed Punjab Roadways and PRTC to issue detailed guidelines to the drivers to be extra vigilant and cautious while driving buses in the prevailing weather conditions. 

The Chief Minister also issued strict instructions to the Traffic Police department to maintain strict round-the-clock surveillance on both National and State highways to ensure the safety of commuters. He also asked the police chief to convene a special meeting with the Traffic wing to take all possible preventive measures to avert such mishaps by installing reflectors, especially on the sharp curves and narrow bridges, along with fog lights and blinkers. 

He also directed the DGP to issue instructions to the traffic and the district police that all stalled vehicles should be towed away from roads and highways at the earliest. The Chief Minister appealed to the people to drive carefully in such tough weather conditions for the sake of their own safety, and that of others.