Steephan Kayyar

Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod

Kasargod, July 15: A horrific accident on Tuesday evening claimed the lives of two young migrant labourers and left another critically injured after a speeding lorry lost control and rammed into highway workers near Kunjattur, along the National Highway in Manjeshwar.

The deceased have been identified as Raj Kumar Mathur (25), a native of Bihar, and Damor Amit Ganpati Bai (23) from Rajasthan. A third worker, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, was seriously injured and has been rushed to a Mangaluru hospital in critical condition.

The fatal mishap occurred when a lorry heading from Mannarkkad (Kerala) to Mangaluru veered off course at high speed and struck the workers, who were parked along the roadside and engaged in national highway maintenance work.

Police said the victims were employed by a contractor firm involved in road development under the national highway project. Eyewitnesses reported that the lorry driver appeared to have lost control of the vehicle before it crashed into the unsuspecting workers.

Both Raj Kumar and Amit died on the spot, according to police sources.

The bodies have been shifted to the mortuary at Kasaragod General Hospital for post-mortem procedures.

The Manjeshwar police have taken the lorry driver into custody, and a case has been registered.

An investigation is underway to determine whether negligence or mechanical failure contributed to the accident.