Bathinda: Four Amarnath pilgrims, including two couples, were killed and eight others injured after the pickup van they were travelling in rammed into a stationary truck on the Bharatmala expressway in Bathinda district on Wednesday morning.The victims, all residents of Banotra village in Rajasthan’s Barmer district, were on their way to the Shri Amarnath shrine when the accident occurred around 6.30am between Senewala and Jodhpur Romana villages.The deceased were identified as Mohinder Kumar, his wife Manisha, Pankaj Kumar and his wife Dimple. The injured were admitted to AIIMS Bathinda and are stated to be out of danger.According to police, the pickup van hit a truck parked on the roadside. Devotees travelling in the vehicle told reporters they did not realise what had happened until the van crashed into the truck.Bathinda DSP H S Sra said the truck was unattended at the time of the accident. He said police were examining why it had been parked on the expressway despite designated parking spaces being available.
