Over 10 schoolkids hurt as ‘jugaad’ vehicle overturns after being hit by car

Early on Tuesday morning a modified motorised cart, locally known as a ‘jugaad’ vehicle, ferrying children of migrant labourers to school met with an accident near Bhupana village near Ludhiana. Over 10 children, besides the driver, sustained injuries in the mishap.

The victims, residents of Mahal Ghumana village, situated along the Dhussi Bundh of the Sutlej, were on their way to a government school in the neighbouring Bhupana village when the incident occurred.

The driver, Mahinder Singh, who also sustained serious injuries in his legs and back, stated that he was following his routine route when a speeding car reportedly hit the cart. The impact caused the rickshaw to veer off the road and overturn into the adjoining fields, trapping the children underneath.

"The children were screaming for help. Passers-by rushed to the scene and pulled them out from the mangled remains of the cart,” said an eyewitness.

The injured were rushed to a nearby private hospital. Dr Prakash Sharma, who is attending to the victims, confirmed that six children to be remained under observation.

“Three of the children have suffered multiple fractures in their legs while others have sustained blunt trauma and bruises. Three children with minor injuries were discharged after first aid,” Dr Sharma added.

“The government school is 3 km away. It is difficult for small children to walk that distance every day, especially in the extreme weather conditions. We pooled our resources to hire the ‘jugaad’ rickshaw for Rs 300 per month,” said a distraught parent.

While such modified carts are technically banned for ferrying people, parents claim they are left with no choice.

Meanwhile, in another incident, a man died in an accident at Kothe Baggu village in Jagraon on the Ludhiana-Ferozepur road on Tuesday night. Identified as Mankirat Singh Sidhu (28) of Daudhar village in Moga, he was going to Jagraon from Moga when his Mahindra Thar rammed into another vehicle going in front of it. After the collision, Thar overturned. He was taken to a hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. Mankirat had recently come from Canada to meet his parents.