A pickup truck returning from Maa Naina Devi temple fell into a canal in Ludhiana, killing 4 including 2 children. Rescue ongoing for missing passengers.
Tragic Accident in Ludhiana: Overloaded Pickup Returning from Maa Naina Devi temple into Canal
Four Dead, Several Still Missing After Devotees’ Pickup Plunges into Water
A heartbreaking incident has emerged from Ludhiana, Punjab. A Mahindra pickup truck, overloaded with devotees returning from Maa Naina Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh, lost control and fell into a canal. The accident claimed the lives of four people, including two children, and several others remain missing.
What Happened: The Journey Turns Fatal
The pickup was carrying around 26 passengers, all returning to Ludhiana after visiting the holy shrine of Maa Naina Devi. As the vehicle attempted to overtake another on the road in Ludhiana, the driver lost control. Consequently, the overloaded truck veered off the road and plunged into the canal.
Sadly, two innocent children and two adults died on the spot. The remaining passengers struggled in the water as chaos unfolded.
Rescue Operations: A Race Against Time
Rescue teams responded swiftly and managed to pull 20 to 22 people out of the water safely. However, despite continuous efforts throughout the night, 2 to 4 individuals are still reported missing. The local administration has kept emergency teams on alert to ensure immediate action if necessary.
All the victims belonged to Manakwal village in Ludhiana. The search operation is still underway as hopes remain alive for the missing passengers.
Injured Survivors: Many in Critical Condition
Several passengers sustained injuries in the accident. Some of the injured have been identified as:
Sarabjeet Kaur
Surinder Singh
Bhag Singh
Kaka Singh
These individuals are residents of Husainpura village and are currently receiving medical attention.
Victims Who Lost Their Lives
The deceased have been identified as:
Jarnail Singh, aged 52
Manjit Kaur, aged 58
Sukhman Kaur, aged just 1.5 years
Akashdeep Singh, aged 8
Authorities transported all four bodies to the Ludhiana Civil Hospital late at night.
Cause of the Accident: Negligence and Overloading
It is evident that this tragic accident resulted from sheer negligence. A pickup truck is designed to carry 6 passengers, with a maximum capacity of 8. However, this vehicle was overloaded with 24 to 26 people.
This raises a critical question: Why didn’t the police check the vehicle? Despite traveling all the way from Himachal Pradesh, the overloaded pickup was allowed to pass without inspection. Clearly, both the driver and the passengers share responsibility for this disaster.
If the driver knew the vehicle was overloaded and beyond his control, why did he attempt to overtake? This reckless decision proved to be fatal.
A Wake-Up Call: When Will We Learn?
Sadly, in India, lessons are often learned only after such heartbreaking incidents. Authorities and citizens alike remain passive until disaster strikes. Only when lives are lost do people start asking questions.
This tragic event in Ludhiana is yet another reminder that rules, safety checks, and awareness are not optional—they are essential. Until accountability becomes a priority, such incidents will continue to claim innocent lives.