Several workers injured after a speeding vehicle struck a roadside work crew in Sangrur district; police verifying reports of additional deaths as investigation begins
SANGRUR: A tragic road accident on the Lehragaga–Jakhal road in Punjab’s Sangrur district left at least five workers dead and several others injured on Sunday after a speeding car ploughed into people engaged in work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The incident occurred while a group of labourers was working along the road. According to reports, around 23 to 25 workers were present at the site when the vehicle struck them, triggering panic and confusion. Several injured workers were rushed to hospital for treatment.
Police begin probe, driver’s identity being established
Police teams have begun investigating the circumstances of the crash and are working to identify the driver involved. According to the SP, authorities are collecting details about the victims and injured workers, while also examining whether a motorcyclist may have been caught up in the accident.
The exact sequence of events, including how the vehicle came into contact with the workers and whether speed or other factors contributed to the crash, remains under investigation. Police have said the incident will be examined and that action will follow on the basis of the evidence.
Questions over emergency response
The accident has also prompted concerns among local residents about the response at the scene, including the availability of ambulances and the time taken to move injured workers to medical facilities. These concerns have been reported locally, but a full assessment of the emergency response would require official details.
The tragedy has once again drawn attention to the risks faced by workers carrying out employment-guarantee and road-related work close to moving traffic. Proper barricading, warning signs, reflective clothing and traffic management around work zones are essential safeguards to reduce the risk of vehicles striking labourers.
As police continue to verify the number of fatalities and establish the cause of the collision, the immediate priorities are the treatment of the injured, identification of those who lost their lives and a transparent investigation into the circumstances of the accident.
The incident has cast a pall of grief over the affected families. Further official confirmation is awaited on the final death toll, the condition of the injured and the action taken against the driver.