B’day boy dies as car falls into canal

Ludhiana: A few hours after celebrating his birthday, a youth died and one of his friends was feared drowned after their vehicle fell into a canal on Malla to Dalla road on Thursday night. Two of their friends had a miraculous escape in the incident.
The deceased was identified as Dilpreet Singh of Lakha village whereas his friends included Iqbal Singh, Manjinder Singh and Satnam Singh, all from the same village.
Police officials said it was Dilpreet’s birthday and he took his friends in two vehicles to a restaurant at Malla village for a party. They said while Dilpreet, Iqbal, Manjinder and Satnam were traveling in one vehicle, his another friend Kinder Singh of Bhammipura village was traveling in the second vehicle.
Cops said after partying at a restaurant in Malla, all of them were returning when their car fell into the canal due to high speed around 11.30 pm. Dilpreet and Satnam Singh were sitting on front seats whereas Iqbal and Manjinder were sitting in rear seats.
Police officials said after the car fell into the canal, Dilpreet and Satnam got out of the car and got swept away in the water. They said Iqbal got out of the vehicle flowing in the water and stood on its roof and called up his friend Kinder, travelling in the other car, and told him about the incident.
Cops said Kinder got the announcement made from gurdwara at Dalla village and informed the police.
On being informed, cops from Hathur police station and people of Dalla reached the spot. Police officials said they pulled out Iqbal and Manjinder out of the water, but Dilpreet and Satnam were washed away by the strong current. They added that people also pulled out the car from the canal, but could not save Dilpreet and Satnam Singh.
On Friday morning, the body of Dilpreet Singh was recovered from the canal near Dodhar.
Police officials said police divers were pressed into service. Efforts are on to trace Satnam.
Locals said it was 23rd birthday of Dilpreet on Thursday but it turned out to be his final day too. They added that Dilpreet has an elder brother in Canada. There is an atmosphere of mourning in the entire village following the incident.
As Kalu, Motu and Bunty, all of Dalla village, had jumped into the canal after taking off their clothes to get the youth and car out of the canal, someone allegedly stole Bunty’s clothes and mobile phone from the spot.