Seven pilgrims run over by truck in Punjab's Hoshiarpur

Four pilgrims died on the spot while five critically injured were referred to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh where they died while undergoing treatment and the rest were admitted to Civil Hospital in Garhshankar.

Hoshiarpur (Punjab):Seven pilgrims were run over by a truck while 10 others were injured near Hoshiarpur in Punjab on early Thursday. The accident happened when they were on their way to celebrate Baisakhi at Khuralgarh Sahib in the district. The deceased were identified as Rahul (25), Sudesh Pal (48), Ramo (15), Geeta Devi (40), Unnati (16), Shamo Devi and Santosh. The deceased hailed from Mastan Khera in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh, said Daljit Singh Khakh, Deputy Superintendent of Police of Garhshankar. The driver of the truck lost control while negotiating a slope and hit the 17 pilgrims, who were on foot, he said.

It was suspected that the brakes of the truck had failed, police said. Four pilgrims died on the spot while five critically injured were referred to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh where they died while undergoing treatment and the rest were admitted to Civil Hospital in Garhshankar. Pilgrims have been flocking to Khuralgarh Sahib, a place associated with Guru Ravidas, in view of the Baisakhi festival. Following the incident, the SDM of Garhshankar reached the spot and started an investigation into the accident.

In a similar incident, two youths were killed and one seriously injured when their two-wheeler crashed into a tree in the Karari area of Uttar Pradesh, police said on Thursday. Prince Kesarwani (18) and 19-year-old Kishan Verma died on the spot when their two-wheeler rammed into a tree on Wednesday night, Additional Superintendent of Police Samar Bahadur Singh said.

All three were residents of Fakirabad and had gone to Karari town for work. While returning home at night, the two-wheeler lost control and hit a tree near the Pindra intersection, Singh said. The injured youth has been admitted to the district hospital. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem, the police said.