A tragic road accident on the Ferozepur-Fazilka road in Punjab claimed nine lives and left a dozen people injured in the early hours of Saturday.
The victims were travelling together to Beas for the immersion of a deceased family member’s ashes when their pickup van crashed into a truck.
Family’s journey ends in tragedy
The accident took place around 5.30 am near Janga Wala village, about 18 kilometre from Ferozepur. According to police, all the victims were residents of Railway Colony in Jalalabad and belonged to the same extended family, as per Hindustan Times.
They were on their way to Beas to immerse the ashes of a deceased relative when the pickup van they were travelling in collided with a truck on the Ferozepur-Fazilka road. The impact of the crash was devastating, turning a solemn family journey into a tragedy.
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Several passengers trapped inside mangled vehicle
The pickup van was carrying around 25 passengers, including women and children. The force of the collision completely crushed the front portion of the vehicle, trapping several occupants inside the wreckage.
Before emergency teams reached the scene, local residents and passersby rushed to help and began rescuing those trapped in the damaged vehicle. Their efforts helped bring out the injured and arrange immediate transportation for medical treatment.
Injured shifted to hospitals
All injured passengers were taken to the Civil Hospital in Ferozepur. However, some of the victims succumbed to their injuries during treatment.
Per a report by Hindustan Times, Ferozepur deputy commissioner Deepshikha Sharma confirmed that nine people had died in the accident. She said nine seriously injured victims were later referred to Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital in Faridkot. Three of them remain in critical condition in the intensive care unit, while the remaining injured are receiving treatment in Ferozepur.
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Probe underway, truck driver absconding
Per HT, authorities said the truck driver fled the scene after the crash, and efforts are underway to locate him. Ferozepur senior superintendent of police Bhupinder Singh Sidhu said a criminal case has been registered and an investigation into the cause of the accident has begun. District officials and Red Cross teams from Ferozepur and Fazilka are also coordinating relief efforts and processing eligible compensation claims under the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
