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In one of the worst accidents in recent times in Punjab, at least 50 persons died on Wednesday when the truck in which they were traveling fell into a canal near Kiratpur Sahib in Ropar district, 80 kms from Chandigarh.
About 15 persons, however, managed to swim out of the canal or were helped out by rescue workers.
The deceased were residents of Dirba village in Sangrur district and were returning from a pilgrimage to the Naina Devi temple and Sikh shrines at Anandpur Sahib when the brakes of the truck failed and the driver lost control of the vehicle.
The truck carrying about 60 people fell into the Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal at about 1610 hours (IST).
Truck owner Deep Chand, who survived, was at the steering wheel when the accident happened.
He lost at least eight members of his family, including his two sisters and their husbands and children.
The police were trying to retrieve the ill-fated truck and dead bodies but it is feared that most of the bodies would have been swept away.
The dead persons included about 15 women and 10 children. The majority of those rescued were youngsters. Indo-Asian News Service
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