Amritsar — A horrific road accident claimed at least two lives and left five others critically injured on Sunday afternoon, March 1, 2026, after a heavily loaded sand tipper truck overturned on the Amritsar Bypass near the Verka area. The massive vehicle reportedly veered off the road onto a footpath before flipping over and trapping three passenger cars beneath its weight and heaps of spilled sand.
The collision, which occurred during a period of heavy Sunday traffic, sparked immediate panic among commuters. Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as local residents and passers-by rushed to the wreckage, hearing the muffled cries of families, including young children, trapped inside the crushed sedans. “The truck seemed to lose control suddenly, and within seconds, the cars were completely buried under the sand and the metal chassis of the tipper,” said a local shopkeeper who witnessed the crash.
Amritsar police, led by Additional DCP (Traffic) Amandeep Kaur, arrived at the spot shortly after the incident, deploying heavy-duty cranes and specialized cutting equipment to begin the delicate rescue operation. It took several hours for teams to stabilize the overturned truck and clear the mounds of sand to reach the victims. The injured, many of whom sustained severe crush injuries, were rushed to nearby private and government hospitals for emergency treatment.
The accident caused a massive gridlock on the Amritsar Bypass, with traffic stranded for several kilometres as emergency vehicles occupied the main artery. “Our immediate priority was the life-saving rescue of the injured and ensuring they reached medical facilities without delay,” stated ADCP Kaur. While initial reports confirm two fatalities, authorities are still working to verify the final death toll as the investigation into the truck driver’s conduct and potential mechanical failure continues.
