SHIMLA: Three persons went missing when an oil tanker carrying Air Force supply to Leh and a pickup truck fell into the Beas-Satluj Link canal at Sundernagar in Mandi district on Tuesday night after colliding with each other. Driver of the pickup truck was found injured near the roadside and has been admitted to hospital for treatment.Those missing include driver of oil tanker identified as Vikram Singh (35) from Udahmpur in Jammu and Kashmir along with two occupants of the pickup truck. who have been identified as Mani Ram and Dharminder from Thachi area of Mandi district.The tanker was carrying 10,000 litres of highly inflammable fuel for Air Force from Ambala and it collided with the pickup truck around midnight at Naresh Chowk in Sundernagar, sources said.Following the collision, both vehicles fell into the canal. Pickup driver Dile Ram fell out of the vehicle and got seriously injured.After receiving the information, the district administration had launched a rescue operation in the night itself that was intensified in the morning. Divers were also pressed into operation to find the missing persons. After much efforts, the rescue team managed to pull the tanker out of the canal and later also traced the pickup truck. Police officials said a case had been registered and search is on to trace the missing persons.Mukul Chandel of Mahadev, who was an eye witness, told the police he was present near the spot when he heard a loud noise as the vehicles fell into the canal. He added that when he reached the spot, he found one person lying injured on the roadside while the vehicles were drowned in the canal. On his complaint, a case has been registered.

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