GUJRAT, June 17: Three people, including a minor girl, were drowned on Monday evening when a bus fell into Upper Jhelum Canal near Qarba Karriali, Sarai Alamgir, some 55 kilometres from here.

Police said the Sarai Alamgir-bound bus (AJKB-1839) skidded off the road and into the canal while overtaking another bus. Three passengers drowned while 35 others were rescued by the area people. The bodies of the deceased identified as Shabana Kausar (4), Azeem and Abdul Aziz were taken out after half an hour. Three of the rescued passengers — Mushtaq, Naqqash and Firdous Bibi were admitted to a nearby hospital for their critical condition. Driver Habib and conductor Javed escaped from the scene.

However, eyewitnesses claimed that about 60 passengers boarded the bus as at least 15 of them were sitting on its roof.

An Edhi volunteer told Dawn by telephone that Irrigation authorities had been directed to close the canal. The rescue operation was continuing till the filing of this report at 9.15 pm.

ARRESTED: Sarai Alamgir police on Monday claimed they had arrested an alleged terrorist of the banned Sipah-i-Sahaba (SSP) with a head money of Rs500,000.