5 of family die as car falls into Bhakra canal on Kiratpur Sahib-Ropar road

Ropar, April 18

Five tourists, including two women and a 12-year-old boy, were killed after their car fell into the Bhakra canal on the Kiratpur Sahib-Ropar road here today. Two children are reported missing.

The victims, all from Rajasthan, were on their way home after visiting Kullu-Manali in Himachal Pradesh when the mishap occurred.

The deceased have been identified as Dr Satish Poonia (42), his wife Sarita Poonia (40) and son Daksh Poonia (12), all residents of Thikriya Baori in Rajasthan’s Sikar district; and Sarita’s brother Rajesh Davanda (28) and his wife Reena Davanda (26), both from Jaipur district.

Dr Poonia’s daughter Ragini (3) and Davanda’s niece Rajshree (3) are missing.

According to information, Dr Poonia, an orthopaedic at a community health centre near Sikar, was behind the wheel when the car was rear-ended by a private bus on a canal bridge near Ahmedpur village around 10.30 am. Due to the impact, the car broke through the bridge guardrail and plunged into the canal.

The police used the help of divers to retrieve the vehicle around 1 pm. Five bodies were found inside the car. Ragini and Rajshree, however, could not be traced till the filing of the report.

The police said the bus driver fled the scene and a case under the IPC had been registered in this regard. The bodies have been sent to the Ropar Civil Hospital for post-mortem.

Car hit by private bus

• The car was reportedly rear-ended by a private bus on a canal bridge near Ahmedpur village around 10.30 am. The car broke through the guardrail before plunging into the canal
• The police used the help of divers to retrieve the vehicle from the bottom of the canal. Five bodies were found inside the vehicle. Two children, however, could not be traced