Two dead, four injured after SUV veers into opposite lane near Jhabiran Cut
A senior Indo‑Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) officer and his driver were killed while four others sustained injuries on Saturday morning after the officer's official SUV collided with a sedan on the Dehradun‑Panchkula National Highway in Saharanpur district, officials said.
The deceased were identified as DIG Parminder Singh and his driver Ravi Shankar. The accident occurred at about 9am near Jhabiran Cut, falling under the jurisdiction of Sarsawa police station, police said.
According to the police account, the ITBP official’s Scorpio suddenly lost control, hit the central divider and was thrown into the opposite lane, where it collided with a sedan (Swift) coming from the other direction. The impact left the front portion of the Swift completely mangled and the side of the SUV badly damaged, officials said. Local residents rushed to the spot and police teams carried out rescue operations.
- Both deceased — DIG Parminder Singh and driver Ravi Shankar — were declared dead on arrival at Government Medical College, Pilkhani.
- The DIG’s gunner, identified as Jayram of Patiala, sustained serious injuries and was admitted to the same hospital.
- Three occupants of the Swift — Gurunanak Singh (49), Gurnam Singh (55) and Devendra Kaur (55) — were also injured; Devendra Kaur was reported in critical condition.
Saharanpur district magistrate Arvind Chauhan provided details about the officer’s movements, saying Singh was returning to Ambala from Mussoorie after completing a training programme. Chauhan noted that Singh was a native of Ropar and was posted in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.
“Parminder Singh was a native of Ropar and was presently posted in Srinagar. He had completed his training in Mussoorie and was travelling to Ambala when the accident occurred. The administration immediately arranged medical assistance for all the injured and we are monitoring their treatment.”
Police said all occupants were trapped in the vehicles at the time of the crash and were extricated by local residents and rescue teams. The injured were shifted to the Government Medical College at Pilkhani for treatment; doctors declared the DIG and his driver dead on arrival. No further details on the medical status of other injured persons have been released beyond the note that one injured passenger’s condition is critical.
Victims and immediate response
The deceased officer, Parminder Singh, was said to be posted in Srinagar and originally from Ropar in Punjab. He was travelling on duty in the official Scorpio towards Ambala when the incident happened. The presence of a gunner — Jayram — in the vehicle indicates that the DIG was travelling with security cover customary for officers of his rank.
| Person | Age / Origin | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Parminder Singh | Native of Ropar; posted in Srinagar | Dead on arrival |
| Ravi Shankar | Driver | Dead on arrival |
| Jayram | Gunner; resident of Patiala | Seriously injured; admitted |
| Gurunanak Singh | 49; Karnal resident | Injured; admitted |
| Gurnam Singh | 55; Karnal resident | Injured; admitted |
| Devendra Kaur | 55; Karnal resident | Critically injured; admitted |
Local administration action and wider implications
District authorities said they arranged medical assistance immediately and were monitoring treatment of the injured. Police teams conducted on‑site rescue and later moved the injured to Pilkhani medical college. No information has been released yet regarding any formal inquiry into the cause of the vehicle going out of control.
The crash highlights continuing safety concerns on stretches of the Dehradun‑Panchkula National Highway that pass through Saharanpur district. Collisions involving vehicles overturning or veering across medians can produce multiple casualties, particularly where high speeds are involved and when vehicles are thrown into oncoming traffic.
Investigations by local police and highway authorities are expected to focus on the immediate mechanical and human factors that led the Scorpio to strike the central divider and enter the opposite carriageway. Authorities have not provided further findings on possible speed, tyre failure, brake trouble or other causes.
Further updates, including any official probe report and condition of the injured admitted to Government Medical College at Pilkhani, will be released as authorities provide them.
