According to police, the farmers were returning from Uttar Pradesh after selling paddy when their tractor lost control while crossing the damaged culvert. With no lighting in the area and poor visibility, the vehicle slipped off the edge and overturned directly into the canal.
The accident went unnoticed initially due to the darkness. A group of farmers irrigating their fields nearby spotted the tractor lying upside down in the canal and rushed to the spot. On finding all three men trapped beneath the trolley, they alerted villagers and informed Lahar police.
TI Shivsingh Yadav and his team reached the site and, with the help of locals, lifted the overturned tractor to recover the bodies. The deceased were identified as Jhinguri Singh Rajput (80), Balveer Singh Rajput (70) and Shibbu alias Shivendra Singh Rajput (35), all residents of Rawatpura Sani village. Police said the men died due to drowning and being crushed under the vehicle.
The bodies were taken to Lahar Civil Hospital for post-mortem and will be handed over to their families on Wednesday.
Villagers said the culvert where the accident occurred has been broken for months, forcing commuters to navigate it at their own risk. Despite repeated demands, repairs have not been carried out, they alleged.
TI Yadav said preliminary findings indicate that the damaged culvert and lack of lighting contributed to the accident. Police have registered a case of accidental death and initiated further investigation. The incident has renewed local demands for urgent repairs and improved road safety measures in the area.
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