Punjab Cabinet Ministers Harpal Singh Cheema and Barinder Kumar Goyal on 19 October 2026 visited injured workers at hospitals in Sangrur and Patiala, following a devastating road accident that killed eight labourers — including six women — and left 12 others injured near Alisher village in Punjab's Sangrur district. The state government has pledged to bear the full cost of medical treatment for survivors and provide ₹2 lakh in financial assistance to the family of each deceased worker.

What Happened on the Jakhal-Lehra Road

A speeding, out-of-control car ploughed into a group of labourers who were taking a break along the Jakhal-Lehra road near Alisher village on Sunday evening. The workers were employed under the VB-G RAM G scheme. The collision proved fatal for eight of them, with the remaining twelve sustaining injuries of varying severity.

Seven of the injured are currently being treated at the Civil Hospital in Sangrur, while four others are admitted to Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, according to officials.

Government's Assurance to Victims

After visiting the survivors, Minister Cheema reported that the health conditions of the injured were 'generally stable' and that doctors expected them to need another four to five days of treatment. He gave a firm assurance that the Punjab government would cover all associated medical expenses without any burden on the families.

Cheema said, 'Today, we met the injured people, and their health conditions are generally stable. The doctor has said that they need 4-5 more days to be treated. All the expenses of the treatment will be borne by the Punjab government.'

Separately, he announced a financial relief of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of each of the eight deceased workers. 'The government will give ₹2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased,' Cheema said, expressing sorrow over the loss of lives.

Minister Goyal described the victims as poor labourers who had been working under the VB-G RAM G scheme with hopes of earning a livelihood. He noted that the district administration had been actively responding since Sunday evening. He also confirmed that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, currently on a visit to France, had personally called to enquire about the situation and directed the government to stand firmly by the affected families. 'CM Bhagwant Mann has gone to France. He called me from there. We are standing with the people who lost their loved ones,' Goyal said.

Political Response

Punjab Congress President Pargat Singh expressed grief over the incident, calling it deeply tragic, and urged people to remain composed and exercise restraint in the aftermath.

Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla raised broader questions about security and governance in the region, pointing out that the International Border lies approximately 50 kilometres away and flagging concerns over alleged cross-border movement of drones, drugs, and narcotics, as well as attacks on police personnel. Aujla argued that authorities in positions of responsibility should already be aware of ground realities before visiting victims to offer condolences.

What Happens Next

The state government has committed to disbursing the ₹2 lakh relief to the families of the deceased and continuing to bear all hospitalisation costs for the injured. The accident has drawn a wave of political visits to Sangrur, and pressure is mounting on authorities to examine road safety conditions along the Jakhal-Lehra stretch and review the broader circumstances of the crash. The injured workers are expected to be discharged within the coming week, barring complications.