Thaindian News

Patna, Oct 12 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani’s modified bus, being used as a rath for his cross-country Jan Chetna Yatra, was damaged Wednesday after it got stuck under the Koilwar bridge on way from Patna to Ara town, police said.

“A portion of the bus was damaged when its roof crashed into the bridge, which is not very high,” a police official said.

According to police, the rear windscreen of Advani’s bus was damaged and the front windscreen got scratched in the 30-minute hold-up as the bus’s roof scraped against the British-era iron bridge and the vehicle got stuck.

The bus also hit a tree when it was approaching a venue for public meeting in Ara, the district headquarters of Bhojpur. After the accident, mechanics were called in for repairs.

Police said earlier BJP workers, local administration and people joined hands to rescue Advani’s bus from under the bridge.

This was the second time when the bus faced trouble on the bridge. “It got stuck on Koilwar bridge on Monday as well, while it was on way from New Delhi to Patna, ahead the start of the yatra. But on that occasion it was not damaged,” the police official said.

The bus tyres were deflated to reduce by a few inches the height of the modified vehicle that is to be Advani’s virtual home for the 38 days of his cross-country campaign, and it was moved out from under the bridge.

Advani, after addressing a press meet in Patna Wednesday morning, left on the rath for Ara town, about 60 km from here.

The rath yatra was flagged off by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar from Chapra town Tuesday morning.