3 killed as coal-laden trailer overturns on bike in Korba

Raipur: In a freak accident, three motorcycle-borne youths on way to their workplace were killed on the spot after a coal-laden trailer lost control and overturned onto their bike on the Pali-Dipka road in Korba district on Wednesday morning.As per police and locals, the trailer was carrying coal from SECL's Dipka mine to Bilaspur when it went out of control and overturned in the middle of the road.At the same time, three youths from Potapani village, who were travelling on a motorcycle towards Dipka for work, were caught under the heavy vehicle and crushed to death. All three died at the scene.The deceased were later identified as Brijpal Singh Kanwar, 23, Mangal Singh, 25, and Om Prakash. Locals said the three worked with a private company in Dipka and were on their way to work when the accident occurred.Eyewitnesses said the trailer was moving at high speed and appeared to veer towards shops and houses on the left side of the road before the driver trying to steady it. After the accident, the driver fled the scene, abandoning the vehicle. Police said a case has been registered and efforts are on to trace and arrest him.The impact of the crash was so severe that excavator machines had to be brought in to remove the spilled coal and lift the overturned trailer to recover the bodies. Traffic on both sides of the road was badly hit, with long queues of vehicles building up as rescue and clearance operations continued.The incident sparked outrage among relatives and villagers, who reached the site and staged a road blockade, demanding compensation for the families of the deceased and strict action against the driver. Police and administrative officials remained at the spot, trying to pacify the protesters.