Teenager succumbs to injuries, 2 others critical

Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, February 9

Gurkirat Singh (16) of Pahuwind village, who had sustained serious injuries during a firecracker blast near Dalake village on Saturday, succumbed to his injuries today. He was admitted to a private hospital. He was among those injured during the nagar kirtan organised to mark the birth anniversary of Shaheed Baba Deep Singh.

Gurkirat Singh was the only son of his parents. His father Sukhdeep Singh, a marginal farmer, is a paralytic patient. The victim was a student of Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Sursingh village.

With his death, the toll in the incident reached three. The other two, Gurpreet Singh (18) and Manpreet Singh (14), had died yesterday. Their bodies were cremated at their native Pahuwind village, 35 km from here, today, with hundreds of residents bidding them adieu.

The local police have registered a case under Sections 304-A of the IPC and 9-B of the Explosion Act 1884, against unidentified persons.

Around 20 persons were injured in the explosion. They were participating in the nagar kirtan that started from Pahuwind and was to culminate at Gurdwara Tahla Sahib at Chabba.

Six of them were still under treatment, while the others have been discharged. The condition of two of the injured, Harman Singh and Gurkirat Singh was said to be serious, while one Ajaypal Singh, whose left eye was hurt badly, was operated upon.

Deputy Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal along with other officials today visited the hospital. He said SDM Rajnish Arora would conduct a thorough probe and complete it in a month.

A powerful explosion took place after firecrackers kept on a tractor-trailer caught fire near Daleke village. Initial reports suggest that some youngsters were bursting crackers while standing on the vehicle, which triggered the explosion.