Fatehabad Cruiser Falls into Bhakhra Canal: 1 Dead, 10 Missing, Child Rescued

Fatehabad, February 1:

A tragic accident occurred near Sardarewala village in Ratia, Fatehabad, when a cruiser vehicle carrying 13 passengers plunged into the Bhakhra Canal due to dense fog. In the midst of the accident, one individual managed to jump out, while the others were swept away by the water. As soon as the news spread, the Ratia police, along with local villagers, rushed to the scene to launch a rescue operation. By late night, the cruiser was retrieved from the canal, and a child who had been trapped inside was safely rescued. However, the body of a young man was found, and around 10 others are still missing. Rescue operations continue, with several women among the missing.

The passengers, all from the same family, were traveling from Mahamda village in the Fatehabad district to Jalalabad village in Punjab for a wedding ceremony. After the wedding event, while returning on the night of Friday, dense fog caused the vehicle to lose control, and the cruiser fell into the Bhakhra Canal near Sardarewala. A passenger, identified as Jarnail Singh, managed to escape the vehicle and raised an alarm, which attracted the attention of nearby villagers and led them to inform the authorities.

Upon receiving the alert, Rajveer Singh, the station in-charge, along with villagers, initiated the rescue operation to retrieve the fallen passengers from the canal. A 12-year-old boy was rescued from the vehicle, although he was severely shaken and was sent for medical care. Another young man was also pulled from the cruiser and taken to the hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival.

The individuals who remain missing include residents from Mahamda and Mansa. Jarnail Singh (40) and Arman (11), both from Mahamda, survived the incident. However, Balveer Singh (40) from Mahamda lost his life.

The search is still ongoing for the following missing people: