Fatal accident near Cholang Toll Plaza leaves three dead, three hospitalised
BHOGPUR (Jalandhar): Three persons were killed and three others injured when a car rammed into a tree and then struck a roadside vendor near the Cholang Toll Plaza on the Jalandhar–Pathankot route on Sunday afternoon, police said.
The incident occurred at about 2:20 pm when a Toyota Fronx bearing registration number JK01BC8358 was travelling from Jalandhar towards Pathankot, according to preliminary information shared by local authorities. The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle before it first hit a tree and then collided with a vendor standing beside his cart.
Police identified the deceased as Sukhwinder Singh (50), a resident of Chak Shakoor, and Ikhlaq Qadir and Aneek Amin, both residents of Srinagar. The three injured persons received first aid at the scene and were shifted to Civil Hospital, Tanda, where they are undergoing treatment, officials said.
Police said the recovered items included seven kit bags, a laptop, three wallets containing Rs 4,400 in cash and cards, a wristwatch, two mobile phones and two mobile chargers.
Members of the highway patrol and local police reached the spot soon after the crash and initiated rescue operations. The damaged vehicle was seized and belongings of the victims were recovered and handed over to the Bhogpur police station, police said.
- Fatalities: 3 (Sukhwinder Singh, Ikhlaq Qadir, Aneek Amin)
- Injured: 3 (shifted to Civil Hospital, Tanda)
- Vehicle: Toyota Fronx, registration JK01BC8358
- Time and place: About 2:20 pm near Cholang Toll Plaza, Bhogpur
Officials said recovered personal effects found at the scene included seven kit bags, a laptop, three wallets carrying a total of ₹4,400 and various cards, a wristwatch, two mobile phones and two chargers. These items were taken into custody by police and recorded at the Bhogpur station.
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Kit bags | 7 |
| Laptop | 1 |
| Wallets (cash ₹) | 3 (₹4,400) |
| Mobile phones | 2 |
The collision has raised concerns about road safety on the busy Jalandhar–Pathankot stretch, which carries significant inter-district traffic, including commercial and private vehicles. Bhogpur sees frequent movement of long-distance travellers and local vendors who often operate near the roadside for daily earnings. Such proximity between pedestrians, vendors and high-speed traffic increases exposure to severe accidents, road-safety experts say.
Local residents and vendors in the area noted that trees line parts of the highway and hard shoulders are narrow in stretches, leaving little space for a vehicle that veers off course. Motorists too face sudden changes in traffic flow near toll plazas. While the immediate cause in this case is being treated as loss of vehicular control, further details will emerge after a formal investigation, police added.
Authorities said the next steps include filing of an FIR, a technical inspection of the damaged vehicle and statements from witnesses and any surviving occupants. The cause for the driver losing control — whether due to speed, mechanical failure, tyre burst, medical emergency or other factor — will be examined through vehicle inspection and enquiries, police indicated.
The district administration and traffic police in Jalandhar periodically run road-safety awareness drives; nevertheless, enforcement challenges persist on major arterial routes. The Civil Hospital, Tanda, where the injured are being treated, is reporting stable but critical cases, according to hospital staff briefed by police.
As investigations continue at the Bhogpur site, traffic authorities advised motorists to exercise caution on the Jalandhar–Pathankot highway, particularly near toll plazas and market points where pedestrian and vendor activity is common. Families of the deceased and injured are being informed and police have begun formal procedures to identify and hand over the personal belongings to next of kin.
The incident is the latest reminder of hazards faced on state highways. Local farm and transport communities say clearer demarcation of vendor zones, improved lighting and strengthened traffic oversight are needed to reduce such tragedies in future.
