The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : 4 die as water-tanker truck ploughs into group at bus stop

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 01, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

4 die as water-tanker truck ploughs into group at bus stop

Staff Reporter

Driver loses control of vehicle while negotiating a curve

— Photo: M. Periasamy

LOSING CONTROL: The water tanker that was involved in an accident at Kannappa Nagar in Coimbatore on Monday.

Coimbatore: Four persons, including a three-year old child, were killed when a water-tanker truck ploughed into a group of people at a bus stop on Sanganur Road in Kannappa Nagar here on Monday.

The police said the driver had lost control of the vehicle while trying to negotiate a curve.

The tanker also rammed a nearby tea shop, which was not yet open.

Many passengers who were waiting at the bus stop had boarded a bus just minutes before the accident. Otherwise, the casualty figure would have been more.

The dead were identified as Vijayalakshmi (46), her granddaughter Gayathri (3) of RG Nagar, Ponnusamy (38) and a 40-year old person, whose identity was unknown.

The driver has been arrested and the tanker owner taken into custody for questioning.

City Police Commissioner P. Sivanandi, who visited the site, directed the traffic police to crack down on water tankers with respect to compliance with regulations.

Their roadworthiness, and validity of permit and fitness certificate would be examined.

Mr. Sivanandi told The Hindu that on Monday alone, the police had already checked 42 water tankers.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu