Truck runs amok, kills 3 at Shobha Yatra

Jalandhar : Three persons were killed and 16 injured when a truck ran over devotees during a Shobha Yatra (religious procession) taken out to mark Rama Navami celebrations here this evening. The deceased included two women, Kusum Gill and Vinni Rajput. The body of a man was yet to be identified. Three of the critically injured, including four children, were referred to local super-specialty hospitals, while the rest were taken to the Civil Hospital here.
Vinod, a witness, said he and others were walking in front of the slow-moving truck, which was part of the procession. “The driver seemed to be a novice. When the Shobha Yatra reached the shoe bazaar in Jyoti Chowk around 6pm, he lost control of the vehicle and mowed down people,” Vinod said.
The police said the driver, Amit, seemed to have accidentally pressed the accelerator instead of the brakes. A worker at a florist’s shop, he didn’t have a driving licence. A preliminary investigation revealed that the regular driver, Gurmeet Singh, had handed over the truck to Amit before the mishap. Both have been arrested.
Deputy Commissioner Varinder Sharma said the police were interrogating the duo. Congress MLAs Rajinder Beri, Sushil Rinku and Bawa Henry and former BJP legislator KD Bhandari, besides senior officials, visited the Civil Hospital. Health Minister Brahm Mohindra told the DC to provide free treatment to the injured. The government announced Rs 1 lakh compensation each for the kin of the deceased.