Wedding celebrations turn tragic for family

Tribune News Service

Mohali, October 15

Marriage celebrations turned into a tragedy for a family when one of its members was killed and three others were injured after their cab fell into a 15-foot-deep drain along Airport Road near Shaheed Udham Singh Colony around 1.30 am today.

The deceased has been identified as Pal Chand (48), a resident of Lehragaga. Pal Chand’s younger brother Somnath (45) and two relatives — Sukhdev Ram and Bittu — sustained injuries in the accident.

The condition of Somnath is stated to be critical and he has been referred to the PGI from the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32. His relatives said his hip bone was broken in the accident. Bittu and Sukhdev Ram were discharged from the GMCH this evening.

The four were coming from Zirakpur to Sunny Enclave at Kharar in a cab after the marriage ceremony of Somnath’s son Keshavjit when the accident occurred. The driver of the cab fled after the mishap.

The car fell into the drain and overturned. After being informed by one of the victims, kin rushed to the spot.

According to Arsh Kumar, son of Pal Chand, they found the car overturned. “First we pulled all of them out and then called up the ambulance. They were taken to the Civil Hospital at Phase 6, Mohali, from where they were referred to the GMCH where Pal Chand was declared brought dead by doctors,” he said.

He said he, along with his father Pal Chand, had had gone to attend the wedding of his cousin Keshavjit, which took place at Zirakpur yesterday.

“While all members returned to my uncle Somnath’s home at Sunny Enclave after the marriage last night, the four remained at Zirakpur to make payments to the service providers. Then they hired a cab to return home,” said Arsh Kumar.

Pal Chand used to run a cloth shop at Lehragaga.

Inspector Manphul Singh, SHO of the Balongi police station, said a problem in one of the tyres caused the accident. “The driver belongs to Fazilka and we will nab him soon,” said Manphul Singh.

A case has been registered against him under Sections 279, 304 A and 337 of the IPC. The postmortem will be conducted tomorrow.