Six Dead, Five Missing as Pilgrims’ Vehicle Plunges Into Punjab Canal

Ludhiana (Punjab): A pilgrimage turned tragic when a mini-truck carrying 25 people plunged into the swollen Sirhind canal near Dehlon village in Ludhiana district on Sunday night, leaving six dead and five missing, police confirmed on Monday.

The victims — including two children, three women, and one man — were part of a group returning to their native village, Manakwal, after visiting the Naina Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh. The accident occurred near Jagera bridge on the Malerkotla road, where the vehicle reportedly lost control while attempting to overtake another.

Eyewitnesses and survivors told police that the driver swerved during an overtaking attempt, causing the overloaded vehicle to overturn and fall into the canal. The strong water current swept several passengers away.

Rescue efforts resumed early Monday with the deployment of divers to retrieve bodies and locate the missing. Local officials including Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain, Senior Superintendent of Police Jyoti Yadav, and MLA Manvinder Singh Giaspura reached the spot to supervise operations.

“Six bodies have been recovered so far. Several passengers were pulled out in time and rushed to nearby hospitals in Ludhiana, Khanna, and Ahmedgarh Mandi,” said SSP Jyoti Yadav.

Village head Kesar Singh said the group had left for Naina Devi on July 26 in a rented pick-up truck. Many of the survivors are in critical condition, while families continue to wait anxiously for news of the missing.

Officials stated that most of the rescued passengers are stable, and a formal investigation has been launched into the cause of the accident. Overcrowding and reckless driving are suspected to be key factors.