Three die as sand-laden truck overturns near Trichy

TRICHY: Three men died when a sand-laden truck overturned near Trichy in the early hours of Tuesday.
Police identified the deceased as Sakthivel, 25, Rengasamy, 40, and Gopal, 30, of Kattakudi village. They were buried alive under the sand when the truck overturned. Local people dug out three others who were also buried under the sand. They were sent to Trichy Government Hospital.
No sand mining has been happening in the district for the last one month due to a ban.As a result, a few people were involved in illegal sand mining. The truck was carrying sand mined from the Kollidam riverbed.
A total 15 persons were reportedly travelling atop the truck when it lost control and toppled on the right side of a narrow lane in the riverbed.
“Headlights were not switched on by the driver to avoid being noticed. The truck was driven on loose soil, and the driver lost control of the vehicle,” said a fire and rescue service officer.
Police registered a case.