Coal news and updates

In an unusual incident, a tipper lorry backing up to get into a queue of vehicles waiting to take on coal from a ship at Chennai Port fell into the sea just after midnight on Wednesday. The accident occurred at the Jawahar Dock point around 12.15am. The tipper lorry driver, Arul Raj, is thought to have fallen asleep at the wheel. 

 

Arul Raj, a 27-year-old contract worker, who also fell into the sea with the vehicle, however, managed to escape by opening the window of his cabin and swimming out. The other lorry drivers and cleaners then helped him climb to safety. The lorry was later pulled out with the help of a crane. 

 

Witnesses later told police that Arul Raj had parked the lorry near the northern side of Jawahar Dock where a coal-laden ship was stationed. 

 

As a number of vehicles were waiting in a line to load the coal, Arul Raj tried to enter the queue by reversing the vehicle. Seeing him go close to the water, some of those in the line tried to warn him but Arul Raj apparently ignored their caution and continued reversing and fell in. 

 

Soon, a lot of truck drivers and cleaners gathered at the spot where he fell in. By then, the driver had broken the window of his cabin and jumped out into the water. After he was pulled out, an ambulance of the 108 service was called. Arul Raj, who suffered injuries to the hands, was sent to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital from where he is expected to be discharged on Friday. 

 

Arul Raj, a driver for a transport agency in Chennai, was assigned to take on the load of coal at the port and deliver it at a private company near Coimbatore. As no complaint was lodged, the Harbour police said they didn't register any case. 

 

After the lorry was lifted out, the transport agency which owns it was informed. 

 

 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/