A tragic on-duty road incident claimed the life of Sub-Inspector Rajesh Kumar of the Una police force while he was managing festival crowds and traffic during the Navratri fair at the Mata Chintpurni temple in Himachal Pradesh. The mishap occurred at Bharwain in Una district when the police officer got trapped between two large passenger buses while attempting to clear a severe traffic gridlock. Despite immediate medical efforts, he succumbed to his critical injuries while undergoing treatment. His mortal remains were consigned to the flames with full state honours on Sunday at his ancestral village of Amlela.
Fatal Incident on a Narrow Stretch During Traffic Clearance
The incident took place on the night of 17 October on a narrow roadway in Bharwain that was experiencing intense congestion due to an influx of pilgrims visiting the shrine. Sub-Inspector Rajesh Kumar, a native of Amlela village under Nagrota Surian, was standing directly on the roadway to regulate the movement of vehicles. While he was actively signalling a Haryana Roadways bus and another passenger bus to pass through slowly and safely, he was accidentally caught and crushed between the two passing vehicles. Following the collision, one of the bus drivers fled the scene immediately. Law enforcement authorities have since registered an FIR against the drivers of both the Haryana Roadways bus and the other passenger bus involved in the crash.
Critical Injuries and Demise During Medical Evacuation
Immediately after being crushed, Rajesh Kumar was rushed to the Community Health Centre in Chintpurni for urgent medical assistance. Recognizing the severity of his internal trauma, attending physicians referred him for specialized care to Tanda Medical College in Kangra. However, as his vital parameters deteriorated rapidly en route, the medical team had to turn the ambulance back toward the Chintpurni hospital. Upon arrival back at the facility, doctors examined him and formally pronounced him dead.
Grief at Native Village as Tricolour-Draped Remains Arrive
Heart-wrenching scenes unfolded on Sunday when the sub-inspector's body, draped in the national tricolour, arrived at his home in Amlela village. His elderly parents, father Rattan Chand and mother Kanta Devi, collapsed in profound grief upon seeing their son, who had been their primary pillar of support in old age. His wife, Madhu Bala, was inconsolable as relatives and neighbours attempted to comfort her. His daughter, Tanvi, who is pursuing her studies in Delhi, broke down and lost consciousness upon seeing her father's body draped in the tricolour.
Ceremonial Farewell With State Honours
Later on Sunday, the final rites of Sub-Inspector Rajesh Kumar were performed at the Amlela cremation ground with full ceremonial state honours. His young son, Golu, performed the ritual of lighting the funeral pyre with tearful eyes. A ceremonial contingent from the Nurpur police district presented an official salute, firing in the air to bid their departed colleague a solemn farewell. A massive gathering of residents from Amlela and neighbouring villages gathered at the cremation site to pay their last respects to the officer who laid down his life in the line of duty.
