6 dead, 5 missing after pick-up carrying pilgrims from Naina Devi falls into Sirhind canal near Ludhiana

Six persons, including children, were killed and five others went missing after a pick-up truck carrying 25 pilgrims fell into Sirhind canal from Jagera Bridge on the Malerkotla road near Dehlon in Ludhiana district late Sunday night.

Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain, SSP Khanna Dr Jyoti Yadav, MLA Manvinder Singh Giaspura and other officials from the police and administration rushed to the spot after receiving the information.

Divers were engaged to fish out the bodies from the canal.

Most of the pilgrims were saved and were taken to nearby hospitals.

As per information, all the people were returning to their village, Manakwal, after paying obeisance at Mata Naina Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh.

According to a devotee, the pick-up vehicle was overloaded. While overtaking a vehicle, the driver lost control over it and the vehicle plunged into the canal, he said.

SSP Yadav said that around 9:45 pm, information was received that a pick-up truck full of passengers had overturned and fallen into Sirhind canal. A police and administration team reached the spot and all the injured were taken to hospitals, Yadav said.

The SSP said six people died in the accident while some suffered injuries and were undergoing treatment in different hospitals.

Sarpanch Kesar Singh of Manakwal village, who also reached the spot, said that on July 26, a total of 25 people from the village went to visit Shri Naina Devi in the pick-up vehicle and met with an accident while returning home. Some injured were referred to Ahmedgarh Mandi, while others were rushed to Ludhiana and Khanna hospitals, he said.