A 56-year-old motorist was crushed to death in Hyderabad’s Balanagar area after an overloaded vehicle carrying iron pipes overturned and its load fell on him, police said. The accident occurred on Thursday while the victim, identified as Prakash Pawar of Gautham Nagar, was riding a scooter alongside the vehicle.
According to the police, the vehicle was carrying a heavy bundle of iron pipes that appeared to have been improperly secured and extended beyond its safe load limit. The accident took place when the driver reportedly attempted a U-turn and lost control of the vehicle.
Pawar was riding slowly beside the vehicle as it negotiated the turn. The vehicle then toppled towards the left, causing the bundle of pipes to fall directly onto the scooterist. He died on the spot, according to the report.
The incident was captured by a nearby CCTV camera. Police said the footage showed Pawar travelling at a relatively slow speed and moving closer to the pipe-laden vehicle while negotiating the U-turn. The vehicle appeared to take the turn at speed before losing balance as the scooter came alongside it.
The accident has brought attention to the risks posed by overloaded commercial vehicles and improperly secured construction materials on city roads. Iron pipes extending beyond a vehicle’s safe load limit can create additional danger during turns, particularly when the load is not adequately restrained.
Balanagar police have registered a case and are investigating the circumstances of the accident. The investigation includes examining whether the vehicle was overloaded, how the pipes were secured and the manner in which the driver negotiated the turn.
Police are also examining the CCTV footage as part of the inquiry. Further action will depend on the findings of the investigation into the vehicle’s load, securing arrangements and the events leading to the overturning.
