A father was killed and his daughter left critically injured after a scooter slip sent them into the path of a road roller at the worst possible moment.
CCTV footage shows the roller reversing over freshly laid tarmac on Friday (8 May).
Vishal Gupta could be seen riding past on a scooter with his daughter, Mannat, on the pillion along the edge of the road surface.
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The scooter reportedly slipped on loose gravel, causing both of them to fall into the path of the oncoming machine.
Before they could get back up, the roller ran over their upper bodies, reportedly crushing Vishal’s head, before coming to a stop.
After jumping down from the vehicle, one of the operators could be seen looking at the scene and pacing around, apparently unsure what to do.
Bystanders rushed in, lifted Mannat from the road and placed her on a plastic chair while waiting for emergency help in Bathinda, India.
The nine-year-old was taken to hospital in critical condition, while her father, believed to be 32 or 35, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police are investigating, as reported by Need To Know.
Local media reports suggest the area should have been closed to traffic during the roadworks, and that a spotter should have been present due to the roller’s large blind spots.
Witnesses also claim the roller driver was wearing headphones at the time and fled the scene afterwards.
Local resident Vimal Goyal said: “A minor boy was driving the road roller, and no safety ropes were installed, nor was traffic stopped.”
Vishal’s sister, Madhavi, told local media: “My brother was not at fault. The road roller operator was on his mobile phone.
“My niece is fighting for her life in hospital. We want justice.”
Another relative, Davinder Pal Bansal, added: “The road roller operator had neither a licence nor the machine’s documents.”
Local councillor Beant Singh Randhawa said: “Strong safety measures should be in place whenever road work is being carried out.
“We demand that the government provide the girl with free medical care and financial support for the victim’s family.”
