Screen grab from video of the accident
Credit: PTI
Thrissur: Five persons, including two children, were killed after a lorry ran over a group of nomads who were sleeping on an under construction stretch of the national highway at Thrissur in central Kerala.
Six others were injured and the condition of two among them was serious. The driver and cleaner of the lorry were found to be in a drunken state.
The tragic incident took place at around 3.30 am at Nattika. The lorry, loaded with wood crashed into a barricade kept for traffic diversion and rammed into the nomads who were sleeping on the stretch of road where traffic is not allowed. The lorry didn't stop after the accident. Later, locals waylaid the vehicle.
All the deceased were natives of Govindapuram in Palakkad. Local sources identified the deceased as Kaliyappan, 50, Nagamma, 39, Bengazhi, 20, four-year-old Jeevan and one-year-old Vishwa
Transport minister K B Ganesh Kumar said that as per preliminary report the vehicle's cleaner, identified as Alex, was driving at the time of the accident. He did not have a driving licence. Both the cleaner as well as driver Jose were inebriated. Steps to cancel the registration of the vehicle as well the driving licence of the driver were being taken.
He also said that the transport and police department would intensify night traffic enforcement. Steps to prevent people from sleeping on the road sides would be also taken.
Police officials said that a case for offences like culpable homicide and rash and negligent driving will be registered against the driver and cleaner.
The lorry was coming from Kannur in north Kerala to Perumbavoor in the suburbs of Kochi.