CHANDIGARH: Bodies of 40 ‘victims, who were drowned when the tractor trailer in which they were travelling plunged into the Nalwa canal near village Dhera near Pathankot, under Gurdaspur district, were recovered, the police here said. More bodies are expected to be recovered. Unofficial sources claim that 66 persons were drowned.
Quoting the Gurdaspur officials, the police said that the water level in the canal had been reduced, but darkness after sunset was hampering the relief and rescue operations. Senior police paramilitary forces and civil administration Officials were supervising the operations. ‘The Army jawans were also reported to have been called “Out to help in the rescue operations.
Nine of a family drowned: The driver of the tractor, who was not immediately identified, is reported have said that the mishap occurred ‘when the vehicle went out of control and ploughed over the bank of the canal. Though, he swam to safety about nine members of his family are feared to have met the watery grave. He was in a state of shock.
The Punjab Chief Minister, Beant Singh, has announced an ex-gratia relief of R.s 25,000 to the next of kin of each person killed The Deputy Commissioner, G.S. Bains said on telephone from Gurdaspur that the trolley was carrying about 45 persons and five of them, including the driver swam to safety. He denied the rumors that 66 people had died in the tragedy. However, he did not rule out the possibility of a few more bodices being fished out of the canal.
The people were returning home after paying obeisance at Bath Sahib Gurdwara, 20kms from here on the road to Pathankot, on the occasion of “amavas.”
Article extracted from this publication >> April 15, 1994
