Miraculous escape: All 11 family members rescued after car plunges into Sirhind Canal

A family of eleven, including five children, miraculously escaped a fatal accident on Wednesday morning when their car lost control and plunged into the Sirhind canal near the Bahiman Bridge on the Bathinda branch.

The family was returning to their village Beed Talab from Bhucho Mandi when the incident occurred.

Eyewitnesses at the scene immediately rushed to the spot and began rescuing the occupants. Locals, along with police personnel from a nearby PCR point, bravely jumped into the canal to save the family members. Among the rescuers was Senior Constable Jaswant Singh, who was celebrating his birthday. He, along with other officers and locals like Krishna from the Gauri Shankar Pad Yatra Kanwar Sangh, who stopped his pickup truck to help, did everything within their means to save the family.

The submerged car's windows were locked due to water pressure, making the rescue challenging. Fortunately, rescuers were able to brake open one window thereby braking others, too, allowing the people to be rescued.

Ramesh Kumar said, “My son Labbu Kumar was driving the car and lost control while trying to avoid an oncoming vehicle.”

Shocked Labbu, who was admitted at Civil Hospital, said he still couldn’t understand how the accident took place.

While all eleven family members were rescued, one-year-old grandson Haranav's condition became critical due to water entering his lungs. But by afternoon, he had stabilised.

Bathinda MLA Jagrup Gill, who visited the accident site, lauded the swift response of the locals and police. He announced that Senior Constable Jaswant Singh would be honoured on August 15 for their bravery and he would speak to the DC about it.

Social service organisation Naujawan Welfare Society also played a major role. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. However, it’s believed to be the driver's attempt to evade an oncoming vehicle on the bridge.