Hoshiarpur- Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain said that late last night, due to taking a wrong turn, an HP petroleum tanker collided with a Mahindra pickup loaded with vegetables near village Mandiala on the Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur road, due to which an explosion occurred in the tanker, which also engulfed the surrounding buildings.
So far, 2 people have died in this accident while 21 people have been injured. The Deputy Commissioner said that as soon as the information about the accident was received, Cabinet Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh, MLA Bram Shankar Jimpa and himself along with SDM Hoshiarpur Gursimranjit Kaur and administrative staff immediately reached the spot and took stock of the situation.
Similarly, a police team led by SSP Sandeep Kumar Malik also reached the spot and other officers including SHO of Police Station City, Sadar, Model Town, Purhiran, Chabbewal and Garhdiwala also started rescue operations.
The Deputy Commissioner said that all the injured were immediately taken to Civil Hospital, Hoshiarpur and the seriously injured were referred to different hospitals. A special team of doctors from Amritsar Medical College has reached the Civil Hospital for the treatment of the injured and all the injured are being treated free of cost under the "Farishte Scheme" of the Punjab Government.
He said that the families of the deceased will be given compensation as per the rules of the Punjab Government and no deficiency in treatment will be allowed. In view of the seriousness of the accident, apart from the Hoshiarpur Fire Brigade, ambulances and fire engines from Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Phagwara and Adampur Air Force Stations were also sent to the spot and a team of SDRF was also deployed.
SSP Hoshiarpur Sandeep Kumar Malik said that the police have registered a case under Sections 105 and 324 (4) of the Indian Penal Code (2023) in this matter and have started a thorough investigation into the matter.
The Deputy Commissioner appealed to the general public to stay away from the incident site and cooperate with the administration in relief and rescue operations. The Deputy Commissioner and SSP described the incident as very sad and said that the government and the district administration fully stand with the injured and affected families.
Civil Surgeon Dr Pawan Kumar and SMO Dr Kuldeep Singh said that a total of 23 patients reached the Civil Hospital Hoshiarpur. Two patients were brought dead. Currently, 5 patients are admitted in the Civil Hospital. Apart from this, 14 patients have been referred to different hospitals, out of which 2 patients have been discharged.