Eight workers were killed and 12 others injured after a speeding car struck a group near Alisher village on the Lehragaga–Jakhal road in Punjab's Sangrur district on October 18, according to published reports.
The workers were linked to the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G), the rural employment scheme cited in reports. Some members of the group were reportedly resting by the roadside when the vehicle hit them.
Police investigation
Police are investigating the collision and the circumstances in which the driver lost control or struck the group. Reports said the injured were taken for treatment, with some seriously injured patients referred to a hospital in Patiala.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced compensation of ₹2 lakh for each deceased worker's family, according to Hindustan Times.
Roadside worker safety
The accident has drawn attention to the risks faced by workers carrying out roadside duties. Work-zone safety can include traffic control, warning signs, separation from moving vehicles and protective arrangements during breaks.
The cause of the crash and any criminal liability must be established through the police investigation.
