15 killed, two critical after truck overturns in Maha

JALGAON: Fifteen labourers were killed and at least five were severely injured after the truck carrying them overturned near Kingaon village in Yaval taluka of Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district in the early hours of Monday, police said. Seven men, six women and two children were among those who lost their lives in the accident, they added.

According to the highway traffic police, the truck, which was loaded with papayas, was on its way from Sakri in Dhule district to Raver in Jalgaon district when the accident took place. Police officials said the truck driver, Shaikh Zahir Baddruddin, lost control over the wheel while trying to avoid potholes. “The truck was taking a steep turn when it overturned and the labourers were crushed under the papayas,” a police officer said.

Baddruddin sustained minor injuries and is being treated at a rural hospital along with the other injured labourers. Two of them are said to be in a critical condition, news agency PTI reported. Police said the driver will be arrested once he is discharged from the hospital.

A case of accidental death has been registered and a probe is underway. “Since the accident took place a few minutes after midnight, the rescue operations were delayed. The injured have been admitted and are receiving treatment,”an officer said. The cops are trying to contact the deceased’s kin to hand over their bodies after postmortem.