Eight people, including seven women MGNREGA workers and a motorcyclist, were killed and 12 others injured when a speeding car ploughed into labourers resting beside the Lehra-Jakhal road near Chhotiya village in Punjab’s Sangrur district on Sunday afternoon.
The victims, residents of Alisher village, were planting saplings under the Forest Department when the vehicle struck around 3.30 pm. Eyewitnesses alleged that ambulances arrived nearly an hour after they called for help and questioned the initial police response. The driver fled the scene, but police said they had identified him and assured action.
Around 24 men and women were working at the site, according to officials, while the muster roll maintained for the project listed 42 labourers. Some workers sat beside the road drinking water when the speeding car rammed into them. The impact left several victims critically injured, with some reportedly dragged along by the vehicle.
Villagers and passers-by launched a rescue effort, carrying the injured in small goods carriers and other vehicles to government hospitals in Lehragaga and Sunam. Those requiring specialised treatment were referred to Sangrur and other hospitals, including Patiala.
Deputy Commissioner Poonamdeep Kaur confirmed that eight people had died and 12 were injured. She said the district administration was ensuring medical assistance and all possible support to the victims and their families. She also assured strict action against anyone found responsible for negligence in safeguarding workers.
Harvinder Singh, alias Lavi, who works at a nearby factory, said he rushed to the accident site after learning about the crash. He estimated that 22 to 23 workers had been affected and five or six appeared critically injured when he arrived.
“The ambulance arrived nearly an hour after we called,” he alleged. He claimed the driver remained at the scene for about 15 minutes before leaving after the police arrived. Harvinder also questioned the police response, saying a police post was barely a minute away and alleging that only one police officer was initially present.
Superintendent of Police Palwinder Singh Cheema said an investigation was underway and that police had identified the car driver. He assured that the accused would be arrested soon and further action would be taken based on statements from the deceased workers’ families. Police also appealed to people not to sit on roads.
Cabinet Minister and Lehragaga MLA Barinder Goyal expressed grief over the deaths and assured strict action against the person responsible.