In a devastating incident, a 29-year-old stuntman lost his life while attempting a perilous stunt during a rural sports fair in Gurdaspur, Punjab. Sukhmandeep Singh met with a fatal accident on Saturday while executing the stunt in Sarchur village within the Fatehgarh Churiyan constituency of the district, according to local authorities.
Eyewitnesses reported that the incident occurred as Sukhmandeep endeavored to mount a tractor by placing one foot on a tire. As he tried to ascend the vehicle, which was standing on two wheels with the engine revving, his other foot got caught in the mud, causing him to fall. Tragically, he was then crushed under the tractor’s tires.
“A few people rushed to rescue him, but by that time, he had sustained severe injuries and was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital. The fair was subsequently canceled following this tragic incident,” said Gurmukh Singh, a farmer and friend of Sukhmandeep.
When reached for comment, Himanshu Aggarwal, Deputy Commissioner of Gurdaspur, stated that the incident transpired during a private event in Fatehgarh Churiyan. “The police are investigating the matter.”
“No permission was granted for this stunt performance. I have instructed the sub-divisional magistrate to take appropriate action against the organizers. While we allow such events, it must be done only with proper permission and adherence to safety standards,” Aggarwal emphasized.
“We have learned that the deceased was a professional, and this was an unfortunate accident. We will take necessary action against the organizers,” he added.
Sukhmandeep, a resident of Thathe village in Batala, is survived by his parents, his wife, and a seven-year-old son. His father, Nirvair Singh, is the nambardar of Thathe, and his wife is an employee of the Punjab Police.
Manpreet Singh Badesha, another resident of Thathe village, expressed, “Sukhmandeep had been performing stunts for the past 7-8 years and had even appeared on a Punjabi channel to showcase his talents. We are deeply saddened by his tragic demise.”
This unfortunate incident was captured on video and has since been widely shared on social media. While discussions about banning such events have arisen in the past, these stunts remain immensely popular in rural Punjab, with many stuntmen earning a substantial income from their performances.