Three killed in early morning accident

Jaswant Shetra

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Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 31

Three persons were killed when a commercial vehicle (Chota Hathi), in which they were travelling, collided head-on with a truck coming from the opposite direction on the wrong side of the road during fog this morning. The accident took place around 5:30 am on Chandigarh Road.

The victims were going from Katani Kalan towards Jalandhar Bypass. As soon as the mini truck, coming from the Samrala Chowk side, reached near the Avon Cycle factory on Chandigarh Road, it collided with the truck.

The deceased have been identified as Balvir Singh, a resident of Kot Gangu Rai village; Uma Sahni of Sandran village and Pancham Bansal of Bhaini Sahib in Ludhiana district. Balvir was driving the mini-truck. All deceased were learnt to be in the age group of 30-35 years. Balvir is survived by wife, two daughters and a son.

The victims, all vegetable traders, were going to buy vegetables from the Sabzi Mandi near Jalandhar Bypass. According to eyewitnesses, Uma and Pancham died on the spot. Balvir Singh was rushed to the local Civil Hospital where the doctor declared him brought in dead.

Meanwhile, the truck driver fled the scene leaving his vehicle behind.

A police party from the Focal Point station reached the spot and launched investigation into the incident. The police got both vehicles shifted to the roadside to make way for the traffic. The police have impounded both vehicles.

The police handed over the bodies of the victims to their families after post-mortem. “The truck driver fled the scene after the accident. We have impounded his truck. The police are trying to find out the exact reason behind the accident and appropriate action would be taken against the guilty after a thorough investigation. 

Efforts are also under way to trace the truck driver,” said the investigating officer, ASI Balvir Singh.