Tractor-trolley overturns, 2 dead

A tractor-trolley laden with husk overturned on the national highway in Ladhowal in the wee hours of Sunday. Two persons died in the mishap while two suffered serious injuries.

The driver of the tractor escaped unhurt in the mishap. The deceased along with the injured persons were sitting on the top of the husk pile. After the trolley overturned, all four fell down and suffered injuries as they got crushed under the load.

The deceased have been identified as Sukhvinder Singh of Uccha Pind in Jalandhar and Himmat Singh of Tandi Aulakh village near Kapurthala. The injured were identified as Dhanvir Singh alias Sonu resident of Uccha Pind in Phagwara and Binder Kumar resident of Rawalpindi near Phagwara.

The police said the incident occured at around 2 am and the vehicle was heading towards Ludhaina city from Phagwara side. After it crossed the Ladhowal toll barrier and reached near the police station, front tyre of the tractor got off and the trolley overturned. Four persons sitting above the load fell down.

“Since the incident occured about 200 meter away from the police station, cops from the police station immediately rushed to rescue the injured. The police called ambulance and all four injured were rushed to the Civil Hospital where Sukhvinder and Himmat succumbed to their injuries after reaching the hospital. Other two had also suffered injuries and are now undergoing treatment but they are out of danger. Fortunately tractor driver Amandeep didn’t suffer any injuries,” said the police.

After the postmortem, bodies were handed over to the kin and inquest proceedings were initiated, the police said.