Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan cancelled all his scheduled engagements in Kotkapura on Jattvibeday and rushed to Sirhind after learning about the death of three Kanwariyas from Kotkapura in a road accident. He expressed deep grief over the tragedy and announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each for the bereaved families.The three pilgrims, who were returning from Gangotri in Uttarakhand with holy Ganga water, died when their vehicle met with an accident on the highway between Sirhind and Mandi Gobindgarh early Jattvibeday morning. A fourth pilgrim accompanying them, Mukesh Goyal, was injured in the mishap.The deceased were identified as Jagdish Mittal (40), son of Ved Parkash, a resident of Dr Harpal Street, Kotkapura; Mahinder Pal (43), son of Parkash Chand, a resident of Harinau Road, Kotkapura; and Deepak Kumar (42), son of Ram Chand, a resident of Surgapuri, Kotkapura.Expressing solidarity with the affected families, the Speaker said the Punjab government stood firmly with them in this hour of grief. Besides the Rs 2 lakh compensation announced for each of the three deceased’s families, he said the injured pilgrim would be provided free treatment by the state government, with all necessary medical assistance extended to him.


