TIRUCHY: A tapioca-laden lorry overturned while negotiating a sharp hairpin curve on the foothills of Pachamalai, killing seven labourers on the spot and grievously injuring eight persons, near Thuraiyur taluk in the district late on Sunday evening.
According to sources, a group of labourers from Kanjamalaiputhur and Odugampatti in Salem district was travelling to Punavarai village near Mayambadi in Salem via Thuraiyur when the mishap occurred. The labourers had earlier loaded tapioca on the lorry from a field near Mayambadi and were proceeding to a sago factory at Punavarai.
When the lorry was near Mavadiyan Koil, around five kilometres from Sobanapuram checkpost on the foothills of Pachamalai near Thuraiyur, the driver lost control over the vehicle while manoeuvring a sharp turn.
The lorry skidded across the road, before turning turtle and killing seven labourers seated atop the tapioca load.
The driver and seven labourers, seated in the cabin too sustained injuries.