Four killed as car plunges into Punjab canal; bodies recovered after 40-hour search

Chandigarh: Four persons were killed when their car fell into the Jorapul canal, located at the intersection of four districts, triggering grief in the area. The bodies were recovered by police after a nearly 40-hour search operation.

DSP Davinder Singh Sandhu said that, based on statements from family members, the incident occurred on the intervening night of May 11 and 12.

The victims, identified as Gopal Krishan, Jatinder Kumar Chaudhary, Gagandeep Singh (a resident of Ghanaur Jattan in Rajasthan), and Sujan Malik, were employees of a truck agency near Village Sangala, Ratola in Malerkotla. They had left for Haridwar by car, along with the agency’s manager, but went missing en route.

The victims were reportedly aged between 25 and 40 years. For two days, their mobile phone locations were traced around the Jorapul canal area. Investigations suggest the vehicle was speeding and crashed through heavy iron railings before plunging into the canal.

The police later recovered the submerged car and found the bodies inside. Due to the condition of the remains, identification was initially difficult.

The bodies will be handed over to their families after post-mortem examinations.