Narrow escape for woman after truck snaps cable and sends scooter flying

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sheer callousness while transporting goods on trucks coupled with driver's recklessness almost claimed yet another life in the state when a timber-laden truck snapped overhead cables, entangling and sending a woman scooter rider flying near Karunagappally in Kollam on Saturday afternoon.
Sandhya hailing from Thekkemuri at Thazhava suffered serious injuries when two cables snapped by the truck got entangled on the two-wheeler of the 40-year-old, who was about to start it in front of her husband's workshop near Kochu Kuttippuram and go home.
As the truck driver proceeded unaware of what had happened behind, Sandhya was dragged forward for about 20-30 metres along the road. The cables later flung the scooter which fell on Sandhya lying below, injuring her grievously.
Eyewitnesses said the cable stretched across the road broke after being caught in between the timber on the truck.
Sandhya, who sustained serious injuries on her head and other parts of the body, was rushed initially to a private hospital and later to the Parippally medical college hospital. Her condition is said to be stable.
Local residents chased down the truck, but its driver claimed ignorance of what happened behind him.
Karunagappally police registered a case against the driver under IPC sections 279 (rash driving), 337 (causing hurt by a negligent act) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by a negligent act).
"The truck and its driver were taken into custody, but the truck was released on bail after recording the driver's arrest. The condition of the woman remains stable. From questioning the driver, it was found that he was not even aware of what was happening behind," the police said.
Ananthu B Ajikumar, a 26-year-old BDS student was killed last week after a rock from a tipper truck bound for Vizhinjam international port construction site fell on him. According to police, his internal organs suffered severe damage and that caused his death. Sandhya Rani, a teacher, too, had injured her legs severely during a similar accident involving a port-bound tipper truck.