9 pilgrims killed, 12 injured in Bhiwani accident

Hambowal (Machhiwara): At least nine pilgrims were killed and 14 others were injured when their vehicle collided with a truck on Friday. The accident took place near Siwani town of Bhiwani district early on Friday.
A pall of gloom descended on two villages whose nine residents, including three sons of a popular qawwal (singer), died in a road accident and 12 were injured.They were returning from a pilgrimage in Rajasthan and met with the accident near Sawani village in Bhiwani district of Haryana on Thursday.
The deceased were identified as Ravi Kumar, 22, Nandi, 20, Sagar, 14, all sons of Bhinder Qawwal, his brother Roshan Lal, 36, Lal's son Sahil, alias Shalu, 12, his nephew Gagan, alias Gaggu, 11, and Bhinder's sister-in-law Manpreet Kaur, 32, -- all of Hambowal village -- and Deedar Singh, alias Dara, 27, and his nephew Raja Bir Devinder Singh, 12, of Hayatpur.
Seven of the 12 injured were identified as Bhinder, his wife Paramjeet Kaur, his brother Baldev Raj, Rani, Nishu and Gurnam Chand -- all residents of Hambowal -- and Jassi, driver of the vehicle who is a resident of Haidon Bet.
Pyari, 70, mother of Bhinder Qawwal and lone family member who had not gone on the pilgrimage, hasn't been told about the accident. "We have heard that their vehicle met with an accident last night and our relatives have suffered injuries. I don't know anything beyond that. I am trying to get information about their condition," she said.
Hambowal sarpanch Surinder Kumar, who along with numberdar Ravi Kumar Malhotra had left for the spot after hearing the news, said a tipper truck ran over their vehicle around 11pm on Thursday. The family's pick-up van applied brakes, but the truck did not stop. He said of the nine deceased, seven were from his village and the 12 injured were rushed to a nearby hospital. Their condition is stated to be stable.