India's High Commissioner to Canada Ajay Bisaria on Monday, 14 March, said that five Indian students were killed in a road accident that took place near Toronto on Saturday, 12 March. Two others have been hospitalised after suffering injuries.
"Heart-breaking tragedy in Canada: 5 Indians students passed away in an auto accident near Toronto on Saturday. Two others in hospital. Deepest condolences to the families of the victims. @IndiainToronto team in touch with friends of the victims for assistance," Bisaria wrote in a tweet.
According to a report in news agency ANI, the passenger van in which the students were travelling, collided with a tractor trailer. The accident reportedly happened at around 3:45 am on Saturday at the Ontario highway – Highway 401, when the students were travelling towards west.
The formal police statement says that "a tractor trailer and a passenger van were involved in a collision resulting in five fatalities, and two passengers were transported to hospital with serious injuries. The driver (and lone occupant) of the tractor trailer was not injured."
The Quinte West Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have identified the deceased students as Harpreet Singh, Jaspinder Singh, Karanpal Singh, Mohit Chouhan and Pawan Kumar.
The police release added that "Highway 401 was closed for approximately 10 hours between Wallbridge Loyalist Road and Glen Miller Road while OPP Technical Collision Investigators (TCIs) and OPP Collision Reconstructionists investigated the scene of the collision."
The Quinte West OPP Crime Unit is assisting with the investigation, but no charges have been laid as of now.
'Pray for the Recovery of Those Injured': EAM Jaishankar
S Jaishankar, the Minister of External Affairs of India, offered his condolences to the families of the deceased.
"Deeply mourn the passing away of 5 Indian students in Canada. Condolences to their families. Pray for the recovery of those injured," he wrote in a tweet.
He also stated that the Consulate General of India, Toronto, "will provide all necessary support and assistance."
Further investigation into the accident is underway and no charges have been laid so far.
(With inputs from ANI.)
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