Mridul Podder
Port Blair, Mar 27: Two labourers died today when hundreds of steel rods from a heavily overloaded truck spilled on road and also over the labourers, who were sitting on the truck with those steel rods.
The Accident Occurred this afternoon infront of Old Library. Five other labourers have also reportedly suffered injuries.
Due to overload, a portion of the Truck’s engine broke down and also the pressure of heavy steel virtually ripped the wooden panel of the right side. The Steel rod immediately spilled and spread all over the road, trapping two labourers, Sukhdev and Ishwar, who died on the spot. Five others, Injwed, Sujit Barla, Anil Kujur, Dev Sai Barla, Sukhan and Anthrias also sustained injuries.
The Driver of the Truck was arrested immediately and a case has been registered by police. According to reprots the truck belongs to Shakti Agency.
Later in late afternoon relatives of both the deceased refused to take the body out of Mortuary and demanded Rs. 5 Lakh Compensation from Shakti Agency and refused to accept just Rs. 50,000 which was offered initially.
“We will not take out the body until and unless the victims’ family are suitably compensated,” said a family member of the deceased.
This is a regular practice in city to carry Steel Rods dangerously on trucks. For safety the rods should have been bent before loading on truck but private contractors prefers to carry strait Steel Rods on trucks, putting lives of innocent people at risk.
