The rhythm of rural life in Punjab often follows the steady, predictable cadence of labor and seasonal cycles. But on the evening of October 18, 2026, that rhythm was violently broken in the village of Lohragaa. What should have been a standard Sunday evening for a group of workers engaged in road maintenance under the MGNREGA scheme became a site of loss. As the sun began to set, the routine task of roadwork was interrupted by a fast-moving vehicle that struck the group of laborers.
In the vicinity of Ali Sher, the air was thick with the focus of manual labor. The workers were part of the MGNREGA initiative, performing essential road work. The collision was a direct strike. A car struck the group of laborers. The collision resulted in the deaths of eight workers and left several others injured.
Punjab: Rajnath Singh expresses grief over Sangrur road accident; CM Mann announces Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/46Shqy63Xf #RajanthSingh #BhagwantMann #Sangrur #Accident https://t.co/CyShYO5YJZ
The scale of the loss is clear: eight lives were lost. Most of those who perished were residents of the local area. The death of eight workers has affected families in the area.
As the dust settled on the road near Ali Sher, the focus of the investigation shifted to the individual behind the wheel.
As the dust settled on the road near Ali Sher, the focus of the investigation shifted to the individual behind the wheel. Authorities have identified the driver as Parag Singh Kala and are working to trace and arrest him. The incident has prompted questions about the response of local police and ambulance services. Political figures, including leaders from the Congress party, have commented on the incident, raising concerns about worker safety and speed limits.