A thick blanket of fog on the Ludhiana-Chandigarh highway turned deadly on Saturday morning, triggering a horrific chain-reaction crash involving several vehicles. The accident, which occurred on National Highway 5 near the Jagrahan bridge, resulted in one fatality and left at least five other individuals injured.
Chaos in Low Visibility: The Sequence of Events
The tragedy unfolded around 7:30 AM on February 24, when visibility on the crucial highway dropped drastically due to intense fog. According to officials from the Sahnewal police station, the initial collision involved a truck and a car. This first impact set off a catastrophic domino effect.
In the low-visibility conditions, a speeding truck rammed into the already damaged vehicles. This secondary collision was devastating, severely crushing the car and trapping its occupants. The force of the multiple impacts left a scene of mangled metal spread across the road, severely disrupting traffic on the busy route connecting Ludhiana to Chandigarh.
Rescue Operation and Aftermath
Local authorities and emergency services responded swiftly to the distress calls. Police teams from Sahnewal rushed to the spot alongside rescue personnel. The operation focused on extricating the victims from the wreckage.
One person, identified as Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Salem Tabri in Ludhiana, was pronounced dead at the scene. The five injured individuals were immediately transported to nearby hospitals for urgent medical treatment. Their current condition is reported to be stable, but they are under observation.
The police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the exact causes of the pile-up. While the dense fog is considered the primary contributing factor, authorities are also looking into aspects like vehicle speed and driver negligence during adverse weather conditions.
Police Issue Fog Advisory for Drivers
In the wake of this tragic incident, the Ludhiana police have issued a stern advisory for all commuters. They are urging extreme caution while driving during early morning and late evening hours when fog is prevalent.
The key recommendations from the police include:
- Driving at significantly reduced speeds when visibility is poor.
- Using fog lights and dippers instead of high-beam headlights, which can cause glare.
- Maintaining a much larger safe distance from the vehicle ahead.
- Avoiding sudden braking or lane changes.
This accident highlights the recurring danger that winter fog poses on North Indian highways, especially in Punjab. It serves as a grim reminder for transportation authorities to enhance weather alert systems and for drivers to prioritize safety over speed during the foggy season. The local administration is likely to review safety measures on this stretch of NH-5 to prevent such tragedies in the future.
