2 killed, 3 injured as truck hits mobikes

Our Correspondent

Lalru, July 7

Two persons, including a four-year-old girl, were killed, while three others sustained injuries when a speeding truck hit two motorcycles near the Lelhi intersection at Lalru on the Ambala-Chandigarh stretch here today.

The deceased have been identified as Kushpreet Kaur (4), a resident of Hasanpur village, Lalru, and Rajni Chauhan (45), a resident of Dera Bassi. Those injured are Dharmendra Singh, a resident of Dera Bassi, and Balwinder Singh (29) and his wife Lovepreet Kaur (27), residents of Hasanpur village in Lalru.

Narpinder Singh, in-charge of the Lehli police post, said the incident occurred when Dharmendra Singh, along with his aunt Rajni Chauhan, was heading back towards Lalru after seeing a plot, while Balwinder Singh, along with his wife Lovepreet Kaur and two daughters — Khushpreet Kaur (4) and one-and-a-half-year-old Namneet Kaur, was heading back towards his village Hasanpur after paying obeisance at the Panjokhra Sahib gurdwara. Both families were on separate motorcycles.

Narpinder said when the two families reached the Lelhi intersection, a speeding truck coming from the Ambala side hit them from the rear.

Eyewitnesses said Rajni Chauhan and Kushpreet Kaur got crushed under the wheels of the truck, while Balwinder Singh, his wife Lovepreet Kaur and Dharmendra sustained injuries and were rushed to the Civil Hospital, Dera Bassi, from where they were referred to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, Chandigarh. Namneet Kaur, daughter of Lovepreet Kaur, escaped unhurt.

A police team visited the spot and impounded the truck. The truck driver, Gyan Singh, was arrested, sources said. Narpinder Singh said they were yet to record the statements of the injured as they were unfit to do so.