Delay in Police Response Draws Public Ire
PHAGWARA: In a devastating road accident near village Rawalpindi on the Phagwara–Hoshiarpur Road, three members of a family, including a one-and-a-half-year-old child, lost their lives in the early hours of Saturday. One person sustained critical injuries and is currently undergoing treatment.
The incident occurred around dawn when a major collision took place involving a tractor-trolley, an e-rickshaw, and two cars. According to eyewitnesses, the e-rickshaw was caught between the heavy vehicles, resulting in the deaths of all its occupants except one.
The deceased have been identified as Pappu Yadav, his wife Sunita Rani, and their son Ayansh, aged just one and a half years. All three were residents of Goal Market, Jalandhar. Sanjeev Kumar, who also belonged to the same locality, survived with severe injuries and was first rushed to the Civil Hospital in Phagwara. Due to the seriousness of his condition, he was later referred to the Civil Hospital in Jalandhar.
The tragic incident sparked widespread resentment among local residents and commuters. Villagers from Rawalpindi and surrounding areas alleged that despite multiple calls to the police helpline, officials arrived at the accident site hours later. Locals claim that immediate police intervention could have improved the response time for medical aid and road clearance.
By the time emergency services arrived, the victims had already been transported to the hospital by bystanders. At Civil Hospital Phagwara, doctors declared the three family members "brought dead."
Shockingly, even after eight hours had passed since the accident, hospital authorities reported that police had not arrived with the requisite documentation needed to proceed with the post-mortem examinations. As a result, the bodies remained in the mortuary, awaiting official clearance.
All vehicles involved in the accident were found to be heavily damaged. Preliminary information suggests that poor visibility and possibly over-speeding may have contributed to the chain collision, though an official investigation is yet to confirm the cause.
The tragic loss of an entire family has sent shockwaves through the region, and residents are calling for urgent improvements to road safety infrastructure and quicker emergency responses. "We have made repeated demands for better patrolling and quicker response on this highway stretch, but our concerns are often ignored, " said a villager who witnessed the aftermath.
No official statement has yet been released by local law enforcement regarding the delay or the preliminary findings of the crash.
The bodies of the deceased have been kept in the hospital mortuary, and post-mortem examinations will be conducted once the required police formalities are completed. An FIR is expected to be registered following initial investigations.
As the community mourns this tragic loss, questions are being raised about the preparedness of emergency services and the accountability of the authorities meant to ensure public safety on the roads