A Hyundai Verna, speeding like crazy near the Ladhowal toll plaza in Ludhiana, lost control. It smashed into a divider, overturned, and was dragged for several metres. Five people—three youngsters and two minor girls, all from Jagraon town—were killed on the spot. Or nothing.
The impact was brutal. Bodies dismembered, severe head injuries. It’s a tragic scene that happened early this morning. The police rushed there, called the NHAI ambulance, and are now trying to contact the families. That process is ongoing.
What draws people there? The sheer, senseless loss of life due to one driver losing control.
The Deadly Time Slot and the Safety Push
The thing is, this accident fits a scary pattern.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has pointed out before—65% of road fatalities in Punjab happen on the national and state highways. And most of the fatal crashes occur between 6 p.m. and midnight. This accident, happening early Monday, falls right into that high-risk window when police presence is minimal, let’s be real.
The government has tried to fix this. They flagged off the specialized ‘Sadak Surakhya Force’ (SSF) last year with hi-tech vehicles, specifically to streamline traffic and check these accidents. That happened.
Plus, just in August, the police integrated the NHAI highway helpline (‘1033’) and the cyber crime line (‘1930’) with the unified ‘112′ emergency response system. The idea? Make reporting highway accidents and getting help much faster.
This incident, however, reminds everyone that despite the forces and the helplines, the core problem—speeding, loss of control, and lack of presence during those deadly night hours—is an ongoing situation.
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