Bhogpur stretch of Jalandhar-Pathankot National Highway witnessed two serious road accidents within a few hours. The incidents resulted in deaths of a mother and daughter and left three other people critically injured and the accidents have once again raised concerns about road safety on this busy highway.
The first accident took place at around 4:22 AM near Chawla Sweets in Bhogpur and according to information a speeding bus hit a motorized cart that was crossing road and the impact of collision was very severe. Pinky and her daughter Yoida who were travelling on cart died on spot while another daughter Abida suffered serious injuries in accident following which team of Road Safety Force (SSF) reached spot soon after receiving information and shifted injured girl to a hospital for treatment. The bus driver fled from scene after the accident. Police have registered a case and started a search operation to trace accused driver and further investigation is underway.
In another accident later the same day a Santro car met with an accident near Bank of India and HP petrol pump in Bhogpur and the incident occurred at around 3:58 PM. According to information the car suddenly went out of control and crashed into a wall of roadside culvert and the impact left Harpreet Singh and his wife Sukhveer Kaur seriously injured. After receiving information SSF team reached the spot and shifted both injured persons to a hospital while the damaged vehicle was later removed from road and traffic movement was restored.
Following the two accidents local residents once again expressed concern over road safety on Jalandhar-Bhogpur highway and residents said that accidents are frequently reported on this stretch and claimed that lack of speed control indicators and warning signs is one of the reasons behind the problem. Locals pointed out that several villages and populated areas are located along the highway but many vehicles continue to move at high speed. Residents have demanded the installation of traffic lights, speed breakers and warning boards at accident-prone locations also known as black spots and they also said that the issue has been raised several times during Road Safety Committee meetings however according to residents no concrete action has been taken so far and now with the latest accidents the attention has once again shifted to the need for improved safety measures on highway.