Mangled remains of the car in Chandigarh on Monday. (Express photo by Sahil Walia)

Two persons died and four were injured in two separate road accidents in Chandigarh on Monday. A 20-year-old man from Faridkot died, while four of his friends from Nawanshahr were injured when their speeding car went out of control and skidded off the road at Nayagaon/Khuda Lahora in the wee hours of Monday.

All former students of a private school in Chandigarh were coming to the city to meet an old friend. Police said the injured claimed that an animal suddenly appeared before their vehicle and the driver lost his balance. Diljosh Brar, who died in the accident, was sitting on the rear seat, along with Hardeep Singh, Dilshadd and Mukul Kumar when the incident took place around 1 am. The Innova was being driven by Gursewak Singh.

While Mukul was admitted to Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, three other injured were discharged from GMSH-16 after preliminary treatment.  Sector 11 police have initiated an inquest proceeding under Section 174 of CrPC.
A police officer said, “In his statement, driver Gursewak stated that an animal appeared before the Innova and he lost control.”

Police said family members of victim Diljosh were demanding the body without post-mortem examination, but it was handed over to them after the autopsy. The damaged Innova was removed from the spot with the help of a recovery van.  Chandigarh police was informed about the accident by a passerby around 1.14 am. The victims were rescued by three police parties and rushed to the PGI. Diljosh was declared brought dead. Three others were referred to GMSH-16 and later discharged from there.

A police officer said Baljinder Singh, maternal uncle of victim Diljosh, said they were coming to Chandigarh for attending a party scheduled to be held in Nayagaon. In another incident on Monday morning, a 32-year-old woman was killed after being hit by a speeding 10-tyre truck at the light point of Sector 25/38 roundabout. Reena Devi, who was riding a two-wheeler, was waiting at the traffic light when the truck hit her from behind around 7.30 am.

Police said the victim was not wearing a helmet and was crushed under the right rear wheels of the truck. The victim was rushed to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in a private vehicle. The victim is survived by her husband Joginder Kumar and three children.

The truck driver managed to escape from the spot after abandoning the vehicle there. The truck, bearing a Punjab registration number, was coming from Dhanas side. The truck was found registered with a Jalandhar-based industry. In his statement to police, Kumar, stated his wife was a sweeper at a government toilet in Sector 37 and she was going to her workplace when the truck hit her. “I was behind my wife and reached the spot within eight minutes. Eyewitnesses claimed that they can identify the truck driver if produce before them,” said the husband.

Sources said victim Devi was a contractual employee with Municipal Corporation Chandigarh for the last four years. “The body has been kept in the mortuary of the PGI for post-mortem examination. The post-mortem examination will be conducted on Tuesday. A case has been registered at Sector 39 police station,” said a source.

The family members of Devi also staged a protest against an insurance company, from which she had bought a policy. They alleged the insurance company was not releasing the full amount after the death of Devi.