Chandigarh Shaken: Drunken ASI's Reckless Rampage Ends in School Bus Horror

It's one of those stories that makes your stomach drop, a truly alarming incident that unfolded in Chandigarh recently. Imagine, if you will, a chaotic Saturday morning scene, usually bustling with everyday life, suddenly shattering into sheer terror. That's precisely what happened when an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of the Chandigarh Police, seemingly quite intoxicated, decided to embark on a reckless rampage that left a trail of destruction and, most disturbingly, put dozens of schoolchildren in harm's way.

The incident, which occurred on December 2, saw 50-year-old ASI Joginder Singh — an officer actually assigned to traffic duties, no less — driving his SUV like a man possessed. Witnesses described a horrifying spectacle: his Safari, speeding wildly, not only on the wrong side of the road near the Phase 7 market but also plowing into vehicle after vehicle. Before the inevitable and horrific conclusion, this single act of monumental irresponsibility managed to damage no fewer than ten cars. Ten cars! Just think of the sheer disregard for public safety.

But the true nightmare began when the ASI’s out-of-control vehicle collided head-on with a school bus. This wasn't just any bus; it was ferrying around 30 to 35 innocent students from St. Xavier’s High School, Mohali, on their way to a normal school day. The force of the impact was so severe that the school bus, with all those precious young lives inside, overturned. Can you even begin to picture the panic, the screams, the absolute terror those children must have experienced?

Miraculously, and thankfully, most of the students escaped with only minor injuries – some scratches, bruises, and undoubtedly, a great deal of shock. However, the bus driver, 50-year-old Ram Singh, wasn't so lucky. He suffered multiple fractures and serious injuries, a testament to the brutal impact he endured trying to protect his young passengers. The ASI himself was also injured, but one has to wonder if his injuries truly reflect the immense damage and emotional trauma he inflicted upon so many others.

What makes this whole affair even more infuriating is the revelation that ASI Joginder Singh was found to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of a staggering 226 mg per 100 ml. To put that into perspective, the permissible limit is a mere 30 mg. He was, quite simply, over seven times the legal limit. This wasn't a minor lapse in judgment; this was an egregious act of drunken driving with catastrophic potential. Locals, who rushed to the scene to help extricate the terrified children from the overturned bus, were understandably outraged.

The authorities have, of course, registered a case against the ASI under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Motor Vehicles Act, including those for rash driving, causing hurt by act endangering life, and even attempting to commit culpable homicide. He was arrested, though later released on bail. While the legal process will undoubtedly take its course, this incident serves as a stark, chilling reminder of the profound dangers of drunken driving, especially when the person behind the wheel is someone sworn to uphold the law. It’s a tragic betrayal of trust and a terrifying brush with disaster that could have been so much worse.