VELLORE:Two MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme) workers were killed and six sustained injuries after a gravel-laden tipper-lorry toppled and fell on them while the workers were having their morning repast at 8 am near the place of their work in Sembedu village.
The deceased were identified as M Mallika (45) and R Lakshmi (40) both of Sembedu village and were employed to clean the area around the bushes, desilting and deepening of the channel along Sembu-Naavithampatti Road in Sembedu village. The six other workers who sustained injuries were also Sembedu and were admitted to the Government Hospital in Gudiyattam.
According to police officials, A Kumaresan (32) of Agaram Colony was behind the wheels of the gravel-laden tipper-lorry, transporting gravel for laying the road in the nearby area.
The lorry toppled on to its right side when the surface bridge on the road collapsed falling on Mallika and Lakshmi, killing them instantly.
The six workers, including four women, sustained injuries when the gravel in the lorry almost buried them.
Passersby rescued the injured and rushed them to the GH.Following the accident, residents of Sembedu village gheraoed Collector R Nanthagopal for nearly 40 minutes at 11.30 am, demanding compensation for family members of the victims and demanding action against the lorry driver.
Despite the Collector assuring them that the administration would take the issue up with the government and compensate the families, protestors refused to disperse, following which the collector allegedly scolded the protestors and left the place.
The Gudiyattam Taluk Police secured the driver of the lorry and registered a case.