Mandiala : Seven people died and 15 sustained burn injuries after an LPG tanker exploded following a collision with a pickup vehicle near Mandiala Adda. Police confirmed the victims as Sukhjeet Singh (driver), Balwant Rai, Dharmender Verma, Manjit Singh, Vijay, Jaswinder Kaur, and Aradhna Verma. Verma, 28, succumbed to injuries while being shifted to Amritsar. Verma, who had sustained severe burn injuries, was referred to the Government Medical College, Amritsar, but he succumbed on the way, Civil Surgeon Dr Pawan Kumar said.
The injured include Balwant Singh (55), Harbans Lal (60), Amarjeet Kaur (50), Sukhjeet Kaur, Jyoti, Suman, Gurmukh Singh, Harpreet Kaur, Kusuma, Bhagwan Das, Lally Verma, Sita, Ajay, Sanjay, Raghav, and Pooja. Some of them have already been discharged from hospital. Sub-Inspector Maninder Singh, SHO of Bullowal Police Station, said an FIR has been registered under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 324(4) (mischief causing damage to property) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the victims and assured free medical treatment for the injured. Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria expressed grief, saying, “I am deeply pained to learn about the tragedy that has taken away innocent lives and caused injuries to many.
Residents of Mandiala and adjoining villages staged a dharna, blocking traffic for over three hours, demanding compensation and strict action. The protest ended after SDM Gursimranjeet Kaur assured them that compensation would be given and those responsible would face action. Cabinet Minister Dr Ravjot Singh, MLA Bram Shanker Jimpa, MP Raj Kumar Chabbewal, and Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain visited the area and expressed solidarity with the families.
Residents of Mandiala and adjoining villages staged a dharna, blocking traffic for over three hours, demanding compensation and strict action. The protest ended after SDM Gursimranjeet Kaur assured them that compensation would be given and those responsible would face action. Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, accompanied by MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, demanded a thorough probe. Warring said, “Families who lost loved ones should receive at least Rs 1 crore in relief, along with full compensation for damaged houses and shops.”
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