SUV rams auto-rickshaw; 8-year-old dies, 4 relatives severely hurt

Panchkula: An 8-year-old girl was killed and four others injured after an SUV crashed into an autorickshaw on the dividing road of Sector 2/4 late on Tuesday night.According to information, the driver abandoned his SUV and fled the scene.A family from Haripur village in Sector 4 was returning home from a birthday party at a relative’s house in Sector 14 when the accident happened.An SUV rammed their auto-rickshaw, leaving all five occupants severely injured. The injured were taken to the Sector 6 Hospital in a private taxi.During treatment, 8-year-old Mousami succumbed to her injuries. Two other children —Shiva (6) and Shivang (11) — sustained severe head injuries, while their parents, Sangeeta and Rajkumar, also suffered serious injuries.All four are currently undergoing treatment at the General Hospital in Sector 6. The police said immediately after the accident, the driver of SUV abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene.A case has been registered against the driver, and a search for the accused is currently underway.The girl’s body will be handed over to the family after the postmortem.