Patiala: Swaran Singh Bhangu, a 71-year-old former journalist and rural educationist, tragically died after accidentally falling into an uncovered municipal drain in Sri Chamkaur Sahib, Ropar district, on Wednesday night. Bhangu was the husband of renowned Punjabi actress Gurpreet Kaur Bhangu. Police received information about the incident on Thursday morning.
Incident Details
According to reports, Bhangu left his home for his daily bicycle ride but failed to return. Shortly after, locals noticed a gathering near a large open drain close to his residence. Upon checking, they found Bhangu unconscious in the water alongside his bicycle. Passers-by pulled him out and rushed him to the Civil Hospital in Sri Chamkaur Sahib, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Police Investigation
SHO Chamkaur Sahib Gurvinder Singh Dhillon stated that the incident occurred around 9 PM on Wednesday. No case was registered as Bhangu's family confirmed it was an accidental death. Dhillon added that Bhangu had previously worked with a Punjabi daily newspaper and is survived by a son and daughter who are settled abroad.
Body Donation Pledge
Local residents revealed that Bhangu had pledged to donate his body to medical research. His remains are expected to be handed over to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh. A convoy of family members, relatives, and well-wishers was scheduled to escort his body to PGIMER on Saturday.
Paramvir Singh, a local resident, expressed grief, stating, "His sudden demise leaves an irreplaceable void for his family, friends, and the broader Punjabi cultural community."
