JOIN USSeven labourers sleeping on the pavement were crushed to death by a truck in Jodhpur in the wee hours on Monday. Police arrested the driver and seized the vehicle.
According to police, 10 masons were sleeping on a footpath near Bhati Circle when a gravel-laden dumper ran over them around 4:30 am.
“The dumper crushed six of them to death on the spot and left four others injured. They were immediately rushed to the MDM Hospital, where one more succumbed. Three are undergoing treatment in the hospital for fractures in legs,” additional divisional commissioner Govind Singh Charan said after visiting the hospital.
Driver Dinesh Bishnoi, who sped away from the spot, was caught by police a few minutes later about three kilometres away. “We have arrested him and seized the vehicle. He has, however, claimed that he lost control over the truck when he tried to save someone on the road,” a police officer said.
“So far, three of the deceased have been identified. Efforts are on for identifying the others,” he said. Police have regisered a case of rash driving against the driver.
Some workers were from Jodhpur and surrounding areas. The administration has announced a relief package of Rs 20,000 for the families of the dead and Rs 5,000 for injured.