One dead after tipper mows down motorcyclists at Vallah

A road accident at Vallah here on Friday morning claimed the life of a villager and left another grievously injured after a tipper truck crushed them under its wheels. The incident has once again exposed the dangers posed by the incomplete and stalled flyover project on the Vallah bypass, which residents allege has turned the area into a virtual death trap.

The deceased has been identified as Balbir Singh, a tailor of Vallah village. He belonged to a poor family and was the sole breadwinner. The injured, Kulwinder Singh, also from the same village, works as an electrician on daily wages. He suffered serious injuries and one of his legs was badly damaged.

According to eyewitness Harpreet Singh, both men were heading towards the Vallah vegetable market on their motorcycle around 11.30 am. “As they passed through the underpass beneath the under-construction flyover, a speeding tipper from the Vallah canal side rammed into them. The driver did not even slow down to check for vehicles or pedestrians,” he said. The victims were dragged under the truck and sustained severe injuries on the lower parts of their bodies.

They were rushed to a local private hospital, but Balbir Singh succumbed to excessive bleeding within hours. Kulwinder Singh is under treatment.

The tragedy sparked outrage in Vallah village. Villagers, including Davinder Singh, Sukhdev Singh and Navroop, pointed fingers squarely at the authorities. They alleged that the flyover construction has been stalled for nearly three years due to bureaucratic apathy and the delay by the contractor.

“Vallah has become a black spot. Every day, vehicles from the national highway are diverted through our narrow village lanes. Heavy trucks and trailers thunder through our locality, endangering the lives of pedestrians and commuters. We have repeatedly raised the issue, but officials turn a blind eye until another life is lost,” said a villager.

Residents held the administration and the National Highways Authority responsible for the fatal mishap, demanding immediate completion of the flyover and adequate compensation for the families of the victims. “This is not just an accident, it is a murder caused by negligence,” an angry resident remarked.

Meanwhile, the police apprehended the truck driver on the spot and registered a case against him. Investigation is on.