11 die after truck crushes car in Ferozepur

Anirudh Gupta and Gurbax Puri

Ferozepur, February 16

Eleven persons died on the spot and four sustained injuries on Thursday after a Tavera car was crushed beneath a truck carrying coal.

In a cruel twist of fate, tragedy struck the family of Jagir Singh — a Dalit belonging to Palasaur village in Tarn Taran for the second time within a span of ten days.

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In the horrific accident which took place around 3:30 pm on Zira-Makhu highway near Behak Pacharian about 44 Km from here, Jagir lost ten of his immediate family members.

The deceased included his wife Mohinder Kaur (70), son Satnam Singh (43), daughters-in-law Ranjit Kaur (42) and Rajwant Kaur (30), and grandsons Sukhchain Singh (26), Mandeep Singh (25) and Akashdeep Singh (15).

Jagir also lost his daughter Ranjir Kaur (wife of Jagtar Singh) and her son Raj Singh (22).

The driver of the ill-fated car, Manjit Singh (42), who was also their close relative also died on the spot.

Those injured include Lovedeep Singh (son of Tarsem Singh), Muskanpreet and Sumanpreet (both daughters of Satnam Singh) besides Jatinder Singh ( Constable in Punjab Police) who was attached with the family as security guard.

Jagir’s younger son Surjit Singh had been shot dead 10 days ago on February 6 besides his third son Jaswant Singh was seriously injured when some SAD leaders had opened indiscriminate firing at their house.

After being hit by a bullet in the forehead, Surjit had died on the spot while his brother Jaswant had sustained injuries.

The assailants had even ransacked Jagir’s house before fleeing the spot.

In today’s accident, the deceased Surjit’s wife Rajwant who was nine months pregnant besides his daughter Harmandeep also died leaving behind Muskanpreet who had miraculous escape today as the only surviving member of Surjit’s family.

As per information, the family after performing “bhog” of Surjit Singh on Wednesday had immersed his ashes at river Beas today following which they had gone to a “dargah” in Mahianwali village in Makhu in two vehicles from where they were returning.

Seven of the family who were in another vehicle had just reached the village while the second vehicle, which was trailing them, met with the accident.

The driver of the truck fled from the spot after the accident.