3 women die as mini truck rams concrete mixer lorry

One of the injured, flower vendor Dhanalakshmi (30) from Rathinamangalam near Vandalur, along with eight other women from the locality, started around 4.30 am in a Mahindra Maxximo mini truck to buy flowers from Koyambedu market. Around 5.15 am, while they were passing Anakaputhur, the truck rammed into a cement bulker parked on the highway. 

“I was fast asleep. I vaguely remember some noise and jerk and woke up to unbearable pain in the hospital,” said Dhanalakshmi, who has suffered bone fractures in hip and left hand. The deceased have been identified as Vasanthi (55), Sujatha (45) and Tamilarasi (36) from Rathinamangalam. All nine women are from the same locality and they sold flowers outside the popular Lakshmi Kuberar Temple. 

While Sujatha died on the spot, Vasanthi and Tamilarasi succumbed in Chrompet government hospital. Sujatha’s body was handed over to her husband Munusamy after post mortem at Sri Ramachandra Medical College Hospital, Porur. Apart from Dhanalakshmi, five other women Amulu (48), Muthazhagi (40), Dilli (60), Rajalakshmi (50) and Ponmozhi (25) are undergoing treatment. 

Dilli’s daughter Kalpana said that her mother has been a flower vendor for six years and would go to Koyambedu market at least twice a week along with other women. The elderly woman has sustained injuries in the chest, while Muthazhagi has her left leg fractured. 

“Two women have suffered head injuries and one of them is critical,” said Dr Narayanan Babu, Dean, Rajiv Gandhi Goverment General Hospital. The truck owner Manikandan, who was also in the vehicle, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital. 

The driver, Rajasekhar, has also been admitted in Chrompet Government Hospital. Poonamallee traffic investigation police have registered a case and a search is on for the bulker lorry driver Senthilkumar.