Nine Killed in Punjab Highway Crash, Renewing Road-Safety Concerns

Nine people, including four women and a 12-year-old girl, were killed and 18 others injured after a pick-up vehicle collided with a truck near Janga Wala Mour on the Ferozepur-Fazilka road in Punjab on Saturday, renewing concerns over recurring road accidents on the stretch and the need for stronger safety measures.

The victims were among 32 people travelling from Jalalabad to Beas to immerse the ashes of a deceased family member in the Beas river. Several passengers died on the spot, while the injured were rushed to hospitals in Ferozepur and Faridkot. Authorities said some critically injured victims had been referred for advanced treatment.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy and announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh for the families of those killed and ₹50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.

Police have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. Senior officials visited the site and reviewed rescue and relief operations.

The tragedy has once again drawn attention to the Ferozepur-Fazilka corridor , which has witnessed multiple serious accidents in recent years. Political leaders and local residents have repeatedly raised concerns over infrastructure deficiencies, traffic management issues and delays in road-upgradation projects , including the proposed four-laning of the highway.

Road-safety experts say reducing fatalities requires a combination of better highway engineering, stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, regular vehicle-safety checks and improved emergency response systems . The latest accident serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of unsafe roads and the urgency of preventing such tragedies from recurring.