Ferozepur: At least nine people were killed and around 15 others injured in a devastating road accident on the Ferozepur–Fazilka road early Saturday morning when a pickup vehicle carrying devotees collided head-on with a trailer truck.
According to police, all the victims were residents of Railway Colony in Jalalabad and were travelling to Beas to immerse the ashes of a deceased family member. The accident took place around 5:30 a.m. near Janga Wala village, approximately 18 kilometres from Ferozepur.
The pickup vehicle was carrying 28 passengers, including women and children, when it crashed into the trailer. The impact was so severe that the front portion of the vehicle was completely crushed, trapping several occupants inside the wreckage.
Nine people died on the spot, while about 15 others sustained injuries. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, where they are undergoing treatment.
Local residents and passersby immediately launched rescue efforts and helped pull victims from the damaged vehicle before emergency teams reached the scene.
Police said the truck driver fled the spot after the accident. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend him.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bhupinder Singh visited the accident site and termed the incident extremely tragic. He said police teams have initiated an investigation to determine the exact circumstances that led to the collision and assured that appropriate legal action would be taken.
The SSP also appealed to motorists to follow traffic rules, avoid reckless driving and maintain safe distances on roads to prevent such accidents.
The tragedy has plunged Jalalabad and nearby areas into mourning, with several families losing loved ones in the devastating crash.
