2 killed, three hurt as minibus hits car

Tribune News Service

Mohali, August 28

Two cousins were killed while three, including the wife and son of one of the deceased, were injured in an accident between an i10 car and a Swaraj Mazda minibus at PCL Chowk here today.

The accident occurred around 1.30 am. Jarnail Singh (50) and his cousin, Sukhwinder Singh (who was in his late 40s), were killed when their car was hit by the minibus. The injured — Jarnail Singh’s wife Ravinder Kaur (in her mid-40s), his son Amandeep Singh (22) and brother-in-law Navdeep Singh — have been shifted to Fortis Hospital where the condition of Ravinder Kaur is stated to be critical. “She sustained multiple fractures while the condition of the other two is stable,” said a relative. The father-son duo, Jarnail Singh and Amandeep Singh, worked at Fortis Hospital.

According to Inspector Mahesh Saini, SHO of the Mataur police station, the victims were on their way from the Sohana side to Jarnail Singh’s residence at Phase 3B1 when the accident occurred. “The minibus, belonging to a local private clothing company, was coming from the Balongi side at a high speed after dropping the night shift staff,” said Inspector Mahesh Saini.

Sukhwinder Singh was a resident of Sohana village while the other hailed from Anandpur Sahib, said the police.

According to sources, the victims had gone to see a relative at a private hospital and the accident occurred while they were returning home.

The car was dragged by the bus for a few metres. The car was badly damaged and the victims had to be pulled out by the police and some onlookers. Jarnail Singh and Sukhwinder Singh were declared brought dead by doctors at the hospital.

The driver of the minibus fled from the spot, leaving the vehicle behind. “A case under Sections 304-A, 278, 238 and 427 of the IPC has been registered against the bus driver,” said the Inspector.

Sukhwinder is survived by his wife and two daughters.