BATHINDA/LUCKNOW: Five tourists from Banaskantha in Gujarat, including a policewoman, died in Punjab, while three labourers were killed in UP in road accidents caused due to dense fog on Saturday morning.The tourists, all in their late 20s and early 30s, were on their way back to Banaskantha when their SUV slammed into a road divider on Bharatmala Expressway in Bathinda district. The crash took place near Gurthari village. According to Met reports, the visibility was down to 40 metres in Bathinda at the time of the accident. Even at 40kmph, reaction time would be less than four seconds in such conditions.Residents of Gurthari alerted police and began a rescue effort, along with personnel of Sadak Suraksha Force. The victims were taken to AIIMS-Bathinda, where doctors declared them dead on arrival.Bathinda city SP Narinder Singh said, “Those who died were identified as Arjun, Satish, Bharat, Janak and Amita. Amita was a constable with Gujarat Police.”The labourers in UP were killed when a truck rammed into a pickup vehicle on Purvanchal Expressway near Sultanpur. The pickup, carrying 14 workers, hit the median crash barrier and overturned. Seven workers were injured. The truck driver fled after the collision. The deceased were identified as Ajay Kumar and Kishan Pal, both aged 30, and Rajoli, 35.
