A family's New Year's Eve turned into an unimaginable tragedy in Ludhiana when an overloaded truck carrying gravel veered off the road and crashed into their makeshift home, killing two young children. The horrific incident occurred in the wee hours of Wednesday on the Jagraon Sidhwan Bet Road.
The Horrific Early Morning Crash
According to Dharamveer, the children's uncle, the family of six was fast asleep inside their hutment when the disaster struck at around 3:15 am. The truck, reportedly overloaded, lost control and ploughed into the fragile structure. Sada Sukh, the father of the deceased, recounted the terrifying moment, stating the vehicle suddenly ran over their hut while they slept. As the truck overturned, the gravel it was carrying cascaded onto the shelter, burying parts of it.
Young Lives Lost and Family Injured
The impact claimed the lives of two siblings: seven-year-old Pinky and her five-year-old brother Gopal. Their mother, Sakina, and two other brothers, Sandeep and Mandeep, sustained injuries in the accident. Sakina, who is now undergoing treatment at a local hospital, revealed the family had been running a small toy shop from the location for the past four to five months. She described how they raised an alarm for help following the crash. Workers from a nearby ice unit rushed to their aid upon hearing their cries, but the truck driver, identified as Pawandeep Singh of Dhanaula in Barnala, had already fled the scene.
Police Investigation and Legal Action
Officials from the Sadar police station, including SHO Surjit Singh and traffic in-charge Kumar Singh, reached the spot after being informed. The police have registered a case against the absconding driver under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. SHO Surjit Singh stated that preliminary investigations point to a tyre burst as the cause of the accident, exacerbated by the vehicle being overloaded. Police efforts are currently focused on apprehending the accused driver.
The incident has left the community in shock, highlighting the dangers faced by vulnerable roadside dwellers. The family, which lost its youngest members in a blink, is now grappling with both profound grief and the injuries of the survivors.
