Trapped in M-sand sludge, lorry driver dies in Red Hills

Arumugam (44) from Maduravoyal, who was working as a lorry driver at a private company, had picked up a load of M-Sand on Thursday evening.

As is routine, he had doused it with water to ensure that the sand particles did not fly while being transported. But the sand became dry by the time he reached Red Hills at around 9 pm. He then stopped near a water service centre to spray water again.

While he was standing on the top of the heap of sand spraying water, he was reportedly pulled into the sledge. Sholavaram police said the staff at the service centre did not hear Arumugam’s request to stop the water. By the time switched off the motor and left for the day, he was buried under the sludge.

On Friday morning, the workers saw the lorry parked on the same spot. They climbed atop and found Arumugham’s body buried in the sand, police said. The body was sent for autopsy and further investigation is on.