Kiratpur Sahib, September 6
Thirteen persons, including nine women and a seven-year-old girl, were killed when the tractor-trailer in which they travelling overturned and fell into a gorge along the Anandpur Sahib hydel canal here this afternoon.
Nine women died on the spot while four others were declared brought dead at the PGI in Chandigarh. Most of the victims hailed from Behrampur Jimidara and Bheora villages in Ropar.
Eight villagers who were seriously injured were admitted to the Civil Hospital at Anandpur Sahib and four others were admitted to the PGI.
Those killed were identified as Jasbir Kaur, Hazur Kaur, Surinder Kaur, Bhupinder Kaur, Varinder Kaur, Gurmeet Kaur, Paramjit Kaur, Inderjit
Kaur, Navjot Kaur, Chhota Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, a driver and Tarlochan Singh.
The mishap took place around 12.30 pm when at least 40 residents of Bheora, Behrampur Jamidara, Mianpur and Ashmanpur, after paying obeisance at Gurdwara Baba Gurdita, were on the way to Dargah Baba Budhan Shah.
The driver failed to negotiate a curve and the vehicle, in neutral gear, fell into the gorge.
Ms Gurpinder Kaur of Behrampur, admitted to the Anandpur Sahib hospital, said they had decided to visit all religious places nearby.
Mr Harnek Singh of Behrampur, who was in a state of shock, said the day was auspicious for visiting holy places.
Panic gripped the villages as the news of the accident spread and a large number of villagers rushed to the spot and to the Anandpur Sahib hospital and the PGI.
Ropar Civil Surgeon Dr Y.P. Singla said all persons admitted to the Civil Hospital were out of
danger.
Deputy Commissioner Alok Shekhar announced Rs 1 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 25,000 each to family members of the injured.
