Taxi driver’s Bathinda stop turns life-changing as Himachal man wins ₹3 crore lottery

A taxi driver from Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district has struck fortune after winning a ₹3 crore prize in a Punjab lottery, turning what began as a routine passenger trip to Bathinda into a life-changing moment for his family.

Kalyan Chand, a resident of Fatehpur tehsil in Kangra, said he purchased two lottery tickets worth ₹500 each while visiting Bathinda to drop off a passenger. Having spent more than two decades working as a driver, he said the unexpected windfall has allowed him to fulfil long-cherished family dreams.

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Speaking after learning of his win, Chand said he has been purchasing lottery tickets regularly since 2021. He recalled hearing about previous jackpot winners who had bought tickets from a lottery outlet in Bathinda and decided to try his luck whenever he visited the city.

The taxi driver said life had not always been easy for him and his family. Despite working continuously as a driver for years, his monthly earnings generally ranged between ₹15,000 and ₹16,000. On some occasions, he said, he had to take up daily-wage work to supplement his income.

Chand said one of his biggest priorities now is to fulfil a dream cherished by his father. According to him, an old community rest house associated with the family had been demolished, and plans were pending to construct a new building. He said the lottery prize would enable him to support that project and improve the financial condition of his family.

Recalling the moment he discovered he had won, Chand said he was watching the live draw online. Initially, he did not expect his ticket number to appear. However, as the final digits were announced, he realised the sequence matched the ticket in his possession.

“I could hardly believe what I was seeing. When the complete number appeared and matched my ticket, I was stunned. It felt like a blessing from God,” he said, adding that his wife was the first person he informed after confirming the result.

The winner described the development as a turning point in his life and expressed gratitude for what he called an unexpected stroke of fortune. He said his family, which includes his parents, siblings, wife, two sons and a daughter, was overjoyed by the news.

Lottery winners in Punjab have frequently attracted public attention because of the sizeable prize amounts offered through bumper draws. Recent winners have included individuals from different parts of the country, reflecting the broad participation in such schemes.

Officials associated with the lottery process said the necessary verification formalities would be completed before the prize amount is released in accordance with prescribed rules and regulations.

For Kalyan Chand, however, the victory represents much more than a financial reward. He said the prize has given him hope, security and the chance to realise aspirations that once seemed beyond reach.