Ludhiana:, Feb. 12 -- Harjinder Singh, a retired soldier who fought in the Kargil War, and his two sons risked their lives to save five labourers from drowning in the Sirhind Canal near Machhiwara on Monday night.

The incident occurred when an SUV (Mahindra Scorpio) carrying labourers lost control and plunged into the canal near the Pavate bridge. While most of the occupants managed to escape, one person, Kulwinder Singh, a resident of Alike village in Bathinda drowned and lost his life.

Harjinder, 49, a war veteran from Behlolpur village, was returning home with his family from a wedding when he saw the vehicle ahead of him suddenly disappear.

Sensing something was wrong, he stopped his car and saw the SUV submerged in the canal, with...