3 women activists of farm union killed in accident

Three women activists of the BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) were killed and 36 others injured when the bus in which they were travelling overturned in Barnala on Saturday morning. The bus, carrying over 50 activists of the farm union, was on way to Tohana in Haryana from Kotha Guru village in Bathinda district when the mishap occurred.

The activists were going to Tohana to take part in the “Kisan Mahapanchayat” organised by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) there. The cause of the mishap could not be known immediately.

Those killed were identified as Sarbjit Kaur (55), Balbir Kaur (67) and Jabir Kaur, all residents of Kotha Guru village. The injured were taken to the Civil Hospital, Barnala, for treatment.

In another road mishap in the morning, five activists of the BKU (Sidhupur) sustained injuries when their bus met with an accident near the Barnala jail. The activists were going from Dallewala village to participate in the “Kisan Mahapanchayat” at Khanauri, organised by the SKM (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM). They were also taken to the Barnala Civil Hospital for treatment.

Senior Medical Officer (SMO) of the Barnala Civil Hospital Dr Tapinderjot Kaushal said out of the 41 injured, seven were referred to other institutions, including Faridkot Medical College and Hospital. Eight persons were discharged after providing them requisite treatment in the OPD. Out of the injured admitted to the hospital, 13 were discharged today, while 13 others continue to be under treatment at the hospital, he added.