As many as 15 migrant labourers have been crushed to death while several others have suffered injuries after a truck ran over them in the Indian state of Gujarat on Tuesday morning.
According to the police, the incident took place in Kosamba when the labourers were sleeping on a footpath.
"A truck collided with a tractor loaded with sugarcane following which the driver of the truck lost control and drove it over the pavement where the labourers were sleeping", the Gujarat Police said in a statement.
A total of 18 labourers were sleeping on the footpath, police said, adding that 12 of them died on the spot while three others succumbed to injuries during treatment.
News of the tragic accident occurred in Surat, Gujarat, in which many workers who slept on the sidewalk died tragically.
— Raghav Barot (@barot_raghu) January 19, 2021
I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved family members of this heartbreaking accident and wish the injured to be well soon.#SuratAccident pic.twitter.com/WOgFZg43Re
"All of the labourers were from the state of Rajasthan. The injured are undergoing treatment at the hospital and their condition is critical", a senior Gujarat Police official told Sputnik.
Following the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and announced an ex-gratia of INR 200,000 ($2,733) each for the family members of those who lost their lives. INR 50,000 ($683) each would be given to those injured.
