Lorry strike: Cleaner dies as TN truck stoned by lorry strike supporters in Kerala

The lorry was heading to Chengannur in Alappuzha district of Kerala when stones were hurled by a few persons at its driver and the cleaner, who sat beside the former, near Kanjikode in Palakkad district.

Cleaner Mubarak Badshah alias Vijay (21), a resident of Mettupalayam, sustained a severe head injury in the incident, while the driver too received minor injuries. Although Badshah was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, he succumbed to his injuries. The Palakkad police have registered a case and are investigating the incident.

As reports of the stone pelting incident reached here, mini-truck drivers belonging to the MGR wholesale market in Mettupalayam staged a protest. They refused to operate vehicles to Kerala resulting in stagnation of vegetables in huge quantity. Only local wholesale buyers, purchased onions, potatoes and tomatoes from the market.

Meanwhile, the transportation of goods by trains has increased steadily due to the lorry strike. As many as 18 tonnes of vegetables was sent to North Indian States by the Howrah Express from Coimbatore on Sunday night. Railway officials said that the transportation of goods through trains have increased by 15 per cent and is likely to go up further.