Patiala: For 26 monsoons, the waters of the Bhakra Canal concealed a tragic secret involving three families from Ropar. On Sunday, a dilapidated Maruti Omni was retrieved from the depths, still bearing a child’s school uniform, luggage, personal belongings, and a few skeletal remains — the evidence of four missing individuals.
The families have finally found closure after years of searching that nearly led them to financial ruin. Photographs of Munni Lal, Tej Ram, Surjit Singh, and Surjit’s eight-year-old son, Kalu, which had adorned their homes, have now been decorated with garlands, allowing their relatives to say goodbye. The group was last seen returning home from a wedding on October 17, 2000, in the vehicle that Tej had purchased just a month prior.
Families from Kotla village, located 80 km from Chandigarh, endured relentless sorrow while searching for the missing individuals. They hired divers and even sold portions of their land to finance the search, which ultimately proved unsuccessful until recent developments. A breakthrough occurred when local diver Kamalpreet Saini, attempting to locate another missing person, discovered the heavily corroded van embedded 32 feet deep in the canal bed. The operation to recover the vehicle lasted nearly three hours.
According to Saini, significant damage was observed on the rear and roof of the van, likely resulting from the impact and prolonged exposure to strong currents. In addition to skeletal remains, clothing, shoes, and the child’s school uniform were found. Sita Devi, Munni Lal’s wife, shared with Times of India the devastating impact of the tragedy on their family. “His parents died pining for him. Due to lack of proof, we could not even obtain his death certificate,” she said.
Tej Ram’s son, Bhupinder, who was five at the time of the incident, recounted the hardships endured by the family. “I am told my father sold 3 kanals of land (approximately 16,335 square feet) to acquire the Omni. We sold another 5 kanals (27,225 square feet) to finance search operations,” he stated. The families faced significant financial strain, borrowing heavily to hire private divers after official searches proved futile. “Despite hardships, my brother and I somehow managed to study until Class XII,” Bhupinder added.
Saini remarked on the inherent dangers of retrieving the vehicle. “Simply attaching chains and cables to the wreck was extremely risky. However, it brought closure to the families,” he stated. Kiratpur Sahib SHO Inspector Rahul Sharma confirmed that the families, with assistance from local divers, successfully recovered the van. The bone fragments found were given a proper burial in accordance with religious customs, followed by a collective prayer service at Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib in Ropar.
