3 kanwariyas die after speeding car rams devotees on Punjab highway
Three kanwariyas were killed and another critically injured after a speeding car allegedly rammed into them from behind on the Sirhind Highway in Punjab's Fatehgarh
Three kanwariyas were killed and another critically injured after a speeding car allegedly rammed into them from behind on the Sirhind Highway in Punjab's Fatehgarh Sahib district in the early hours of Sunday. The driver fled the scene, prompting protests by fellow devotees demanding the accused's immediate arrest. According to police, the accident took place at around 2 am on the Sirhind-Mandi Gobindgarh stretch of the Highway, around 600-700 metres before Dada Motors. The victims, all residents of Kotkapura in Punjab's Faridkot district, were returning from Gangotri Dham after collecting holy Ganga water as part of the annual Kanwar Yatra.
Read Full Story The deceased have been identified as Deepak Kumar, Mahinder Pal and Jagdish Mittal. Another kanwariya sustained critical injuries and is undergoing treatment at a private hospital. An eyewitness, Jagsir Singh, who was travelling with the group, said he and another devotee were walking behind the four victims when a speeding car approached from behind and crashed into them. He alleged that instead of stopping, the driver continued driving over the victims before fleeing the spot. Following the collision, fellow devotees searched for the victims in the darkness. While three of them were found lying on the roadside, Deepak Kumar was located nearly 15 minutes later beneath the highway railing along a slip road.
By then, three of the victims had succumbed to their injuries. POLICE LAUNCH INVESTIGATION TO FIND THE CAR OWNER Police said the number plate of the vehicle broke off during the impact and was recovered from the accident site. Police are trying to trace the vehicle and identify the driver. Sirhind Police reached the spot soon after receiving information, shifted the bodies to the mortuary and began legal proceedings. Officials said efforts are underway to identify and arrest the absconding driver. The incident triggered protests by kanwariyas and members of local Shiv organisations, who remained at the accident site demanding immediate action against the accused.
Several political leaders also visited the spot. Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan expressed grief over the deaths and assured that strict legal action would be taken against the accused. He also said the Punjab government would provide financial assistance to the families of the deceased. Investigating officer Tilak Raj said police are searching for the unidentified vehicle and expressed confidence that the accused would be arrested soon. Further investigation is underway. Ends With inputs from Prem Kumar Passi
The BriefWire