Gas tanker blast: driver surrenders, toll 11

The driver of the ill-fated gas tanker lorry that wreaked havoc at Chala on Monday night surrendered before the police on Friday even as the toll in the fire rose to 11.

Kanniah, 35, a native of Tamil Nadu, turned up at the office of DySP P Sukumaran even as a police team failed to locate him at his native place Gangapuri.

He had fled the scene of explosion after alerting the people in the neighbourhood about the gas leak.

The police team, which had been trying to locate him for the last three days, had taken the members of Kanniah’s family in custody. His arrest was recorded by the police on Friday morning. Kanniah was charged with sections 304 (A), 338, and 279 of the IPC.

Further investigation against him would depend on the findings of the PWD, National Highway Authority and the Indian Oil Corporation.

Kanniah has been working as driver of the tanker lorry for the last 12 years. According to him, a lorry carrying fish had come on the left side against his vehicle forcing him to turn it to the right.

This resulted in the tanker lorry hitting the road divider. The police, however, have not believed his version as it contradicted what witnesses had seen at the spot.

Kanniah also claimed that he hadn’t caused any serious accident in the past.

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The New Indian Express
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