3 killed as mini truck loaded with onion sacks overturns

Indore: Three men were killed after they were trapped beneath onion sacks in the back of a mini-truck that overturned in Dewas district late on Saturday night. Two others, including the driver, sustained serious injuries.

The accident took place near Berkhedi Fata close to Chaubara Dhara under Piplarawa police station limits when the vehicle reportedly lost balance while taking a U-turn.

ASP Jayveer Bhadoriya said the labourers were sitting at the rear of the mini-truck along with sacks of onions. As the vehicle overturned, the workers got trapped beneath the heavy sacks. On receiving information, Piplarawan police launched a rescue operation with the help of local residents. The rescue operation continued through the night as teams worked to pull out those trapped under the vehicle and onion sacks.

The injured labourers were shifted to the govt hospital in Sonkatch for treatment, while three workers were declared dead by doctors after being brought to the hospital. The bodies have been kept at the Sonkatch Civil Hospital for postmortem examination. Police have prepared the panchnama of the deceased.

Police said that three people including Omprakash Malviya, Akash Bagania and Vijay Malviya, residents of Balon village were killed in the accident. The two injured persons are the truck driver and cleaner, who have been admitted to a private hospital for treatment.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the mini-truck overturned around 12.30 am after the driver allegedly lost control while negotiating a turn. Police suspect the driver may have dozed off due to fatigue, leading to the accident.