3 women lost their lives as farmer's protest turns tragic; Multiple bus accidents, several injured

Punjab: A tragic accident left three dead and many more injured as buses carrying farmers to Punjab's Khanauri and Haryana's Tohana to be a part of a 'kisan mahapanchayat' witnessed the mayhem. The ongoing protest was started by farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on hunger strike since the 40th day.

Hunger Strike Intensifies Amid Tragedy

A 70-year-old man who for a month has been conducting a hunger strike demanding the legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price, or MSP, crops. He did not care about his health and was not willing to accept medical aid. He, in fact, has made all-India attention. In fact, the Mahapanchayat for which he called up for a high gathering was tragic on its journey in which the dead buses carrying the farmers met with an accident.

Tragic news: A bus carrying farmers to the Tohana Mahapanchayat met with an accident near Barnala on the Barnala-Bathinda Highway. Several farmers were injured, and reports confirm 3 women farmers have succumbed to their injuries. The farmers were associated with BKU Ugrahan. pic.twitter.com/LzXWV6S00r

— Gagandeep Singh (@Gagan4344) January 4, 2025

Horrible accident 

The thick fog engulfing Saturday morning created total zero visibility between 9 and 10 on Saturday afternoon, in which news of four bus accidents flashed while one single BKU Ugrahan of which 52 workers were facing met with such misfortune accident who met sad demises around BN Barnala via Handiyaya bypass that their three dead and two grave seriously injured and at least twelve to fifteen serious hurts. More accidents occurred in Barnala and Bathinda when the farmer leaders did not ease the grassroots-level protest over the calamity.

Farmers Protest 

The farmer leaders have heavily criticized the Centre for its unwillingness to hear them out. Dallewal continues his sit-in protest demanding a direct dialogue with the Modi government and not awaiting judicial intervention. According to the movement, it is not the judiciary's issue but the policies of the Centre.

Government's Response

Punjab has been particularly keenly concerned with Dallewal's health, in which the Chief Minister of the State, Bhagwant Mann, announced the availability of a medical team at his behest with frequent health updates. In its retaliatory turn, the Center's Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that he would take the Supreme Court judgment along so that the central handling of the situation would be carried out.