Tractor-trailer plunges into canal

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 29

A tractor trailer filled with fodder today fell in Sirhind canal near National Colony. The vehicle was being put on a reverse gear near the canal when the incident took place. Three persons were riding on the trolley, who were later rescued by volunteers of NGO Sahara Jansewa.

Tractor driver said half of the material was unloaded from the trolley at Ballaram Nagar and the vehicle was travelling to Kothe Natha Singhwala when the incident took place. The tractor trolley was taken out from the canal with the help of a crane.

Such overloaded tractor trolleys have become a nuisance on city roads. These become more dangerous at night in the absence of proper lighting system as these vehicles don’t have headlights or taillights. Moreover, they hardly give way to vehicles coming from either side on roads which cause traffic slowdown.

New trolleys come in larger sizes than the old ones so that more goods could be accommodated. Residents have urged the district administration to take serious notice of the issue, but nothing has been done so far. A lack of proper check by the traffic police on such norm violations have worsen the situation, making such overloaded vehicles move freely on city roads, leading to risk for travellers in the city.