3 Women Farmers Die As Truck Rams Into Them

A majority (70 percent) of those killed on highways in India comprise vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists and motorised two-wheeler riders). This is similar to urban areas where the vulnerable road users comprise about 80 percent of the total fatalities (Representational Image)

Three women farmers died while two more were injured after a truck allegedly rammed into them on Thursday morning in Haryana’s Jhajjar district.

While two women died on the spot, one succumbed to her injuries while being taken to the hospital, police said.

Three more women, along with a male farmer, were injured.

The incident took place at 6:30 am under the flyover on Jhajjar Road when the victims were sitting on a divider and waiting for an auto-rickshaw.

Police said the women had been part of farmers’ protests and were waiting to return to their native village in Mansa, Punjab, when the incident took place. The victims have been identified as Amarjeet Kaur, Gurmail Kaur and Harsinder Kaur.

Waseem Akram, superintendent of police, Jhajjar, said, “A tipper, carrying dust, rammed into the group of women farmers. Two of them died on the spot. The injured were rushed to the civil hospital and referred to PGI Rohtak for treatment. One of the injured died on the way to the hospital in Rohtak, while two women are reported to be out of danger.”

Two other women who sustained injuries have been identified as Gurmel Kaur and Harmeet Kaur. All hailed from village Dialuwala, block Bhikhi, Mansa district, said police. The truck driver abandoned the truck and escaped from the spot. He is yet to be arrested, said police.

Satwant Singh, member of Bharatiya Kisan Union, Ugrahan, said, “The women were returning to their village in Punjab as part of rotation. They had been part of farmers’ protests. It is suspected that the accused tipper driver fell asleep at the wheel.”

Farmers have been sitting on the borders of Delhi for the past 11 months as part of their agitation against the three contentious farm laws.