At least six people have died, two were injured, and several remain missing after a vehicle carrying 14 individuals plunged into a canal in Fatehabad, Haryana, late Friday night, officials confirmed.
According to Sub-Divisional Magistrate Jagdish Chandra, the group had been returning from a wedding in Fazilka, Punjab, when their vehicle veered off the road and fell into the canal in Fatehabad.
Chandra reported that six bodies have been recovered so far, two individuals were rescued alive, and the remaining six are still unaccounted for. “Three people were rescued during the night; one later succumbed to their injuries, while the other two are alive. Five additional bodies have been recovered,” he said.
The deceased have been identified by their families, with the victims including a 1.5-month-old infant, a 10-year-old girl, and an adult man and woman.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams are currently conducting search and rescue operations. The water levels in the canal were reduced after coordination with the irrigation department, and authorities are now working on setting up a permanent barricade around the canal, with a temporary safety barricade put in place for the time being.
The search operation for the missing individuals is ongoing.
Further updates are awaited as the rescue efforts continue.
