HYDERABAD: A series of road accidents involving water tankers has spurred the Transport Department to examine the roadworthiness of all 540 water tankers being operated by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) in the city.

A decision to this effect was taken after a meeting with Water Board officials on Thursday. Eight persons died and 23 others suffered injuries in 29 road accidents involving water tankers in the city so far this year. Joint Transport Commissioner B. Venkateswarlu said vehicles would be inspected for fitness and mechanical defects at the offices of the Regional Transport Authority at Trimulgherry and Nagole for four days from October 30. "If a tanker is found to be unfit, we will ask the board officials not to use them," he said.

If such tankers continued to ply, vehicles would be seized on the spot, the JTC said, adding that two tankers were seized during a drive conducted by five special teams on Thursday. He said all 15-year-old heavy vehicles had already been banned in city limits. According to the JTC, over 50 cases have been booked under Motor Vehicle Act against water tanker drivers and owners.

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