It was another normal day for Balraj and Ramandeep Singh, but the excitement was unusual for these visually-impaired students, when they went to find a writer for their final year examination at Sector-19. However, fate had something else in store.
Fighting all odds, these visually-impaired men braved their way in life and as any other aspiring youngster, all they wanted was a decent education and a job thereafter. Finally when they were about to sit for their final year examinations to become graduates, they fell victim to someone else’s gaffe.
“I have my final year examinations starting in the month of April and it would be very difficult for me prepare for it and sit in the final examination. My entire career is in jeopardy because of someone else’s negligence,” said a devastated Ramandeep, who was left with a broken limb on Wednesday following an accident.
Both Balraj and Ramandeep were returning from Sector-19 after finding a writer, who would write the examination on their behalf a practice common with visually-impaired persons. As soon as they alighted from the bus they were travelling in, a rashly driven Government vehicle rammed into them.
The incident took place near the divider bifurcating Sector 11 and 16. The accused driver was arrested on the spot, but by that time the harm was done to both these victims. Balaraj and Ramandeep, both in their 20’s were on their way back to the Post Graduate Government college hostel, where they were residing for past few years, when the incident took place.
Both Balraj and Ramandeep are natives of District Sri Muktsar Sahab at Punjab. They were studying in the final year of Bachelors of Arts at PGGC and residing at the main hostel in the college. The incident took place when a rashly driven vehicle of Punjab Government (PB-06-l-5452) hit Balraj and Rinku from behind, while they alighted from the bus to reach their hostel, and left them badly injured on Wednesday afternoon.
Hansraj Singh, warden of the hostel rushed to the rescue of his students and informed the police about the incident. Meanwhile, both the accident victims were rushed to the Government Multi Specialty Hospital, sector-16 where after thorough examination doctors informed that Balraj’s condition is serious as he has sustained internal injuries culminating in internal bleeding. Ramandeep on the other hand has a severely fractured limb.
Sukhdeep Kaur, a relative of Ramandeep said “Balraj and Ramandeep had gone to get a writer at Sector-19, a person who assists the visually impaired students in writing examination. They were hit by the vehicle near the bus stop. I don’t understand how person with proper vision sometimes refuse to use them.” Meanwhile Jaspal Singh, who is the driver of the car belonging to a Chief Engineer of Punjab government, has been taken into police custody and further investigations are under progress said, Ashish Kapoor, DSP, Chandigarh police.