Pickup truck carrying 25 people plunges into Sirhind Canal near Ludhiana; 6 dead

LUDHIANA: At least six persons, including two children, died and three others are reportedly missing after a pickup truck carrying around 25 people fell into the Sirhind Canal near Jagera bridge in the Maloud area on Sunday night. Local sources said that the group of devotees was returning from the Naina Devi temple in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh after offering prayers when the driver lost control of the vehicle near Jagera bridge, causing it to plunge into the canal. They added that, in the accident, four people — including two children and a woman — died, while three others are still missing. A person at the spot said that a rescue operation is underway to trace the missing persons. He added that those injured were rushed to hospitals in Dehlon, Payal, and Ludhiana. Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain and SSP Khanna Jyoti Yadav were present at the site, monitoring the rescue operation. Meanwhile, Payal MLA Manwinder Gyaspura told TOI that the number of fatalities in the accident could exceed seven.Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain said, "Total 24 to 25 persons in the vehicle, 22 were rescued last night out of which 16 are safe. He added that six persons have died till now and dead persons include two kids, three women and a male. A male and female each are missing and a body couldn’t be retrieved from the mud."