Police water tanker driver dies in road mishap in Ukhrul

UT Correspondent | Ukhrul, 22 AUG:
This report was initially reported as VDF driver dies in accident: Ukhrul on August 21, 2020. Kindly note the corrected report.

In an unfortunate road accident, a police water tanker driver was killed, while an occupant of the vehicle escaped unhurt at Kahumtang area in Ukhrul town on Friday.

The deceased has been identified as Vijay Prasad, 24, a VDF personnel, of Kanglatongbi. His family is said to be currently residing at Senapati district.

Police said that the mishap occurred at around 3:30 pm when the water tanker which was coming towards the town after filling water from Ringuira pond, suffered a mechanical failure while trying to maneuver a steep stretch and flipped onto its back at Kahumtang area. However, the other occupant of the tanker, also a police personnel, managed to jump off the vehicle and escaped unhurt.

A police team immediately arrived at the spot and rushed Vijay Prasad in a critical condition with head and shoulder injuries to the district hospital where doctors declared him brought dead, police added.

Pathetic conditions of the roadway is being blamed for the fatal accident. Apart from precipitously steep, the stretch is said to be marshy and slippery due monsoon rains.