Bhupalpally: District transport officer (DTO) M Venkanna, 45, was killed on Monday morning after a coal-laden truck ran him over during a vehicle inspection outside the RTO office at Chelpur near Bhupalpally town.Venkanna, who had taken charge in the district just 20 days ago, died on the spot.According to Bhupalpally DSP A Sampath Rao, Venkanna and his staff had been conducting vehicle checks since 6.30 am and had seized a harvester from Moranchapalli.To enter the DTO office premises, the harvester had to take a right turn from the Bhupalpally–Ghanpur highway. While Venkanna and his staff were directing the harvester driver into the office compound, a truck carrying coal from Bhupalpally to the Telangana Genco power plant near Chelpur reportedly swerved sharply to the left to avoid colliding with the harvester. In the process, the truck struck Venkanna, who was standing beside his parked car, and ran over him. He sustained severe injuries and died instantly, the DSP said.Transport department staff immediately alerted the police and apprehended the driver, Mohammed Tasleem, after he stopped the vehicle a short distance away.“We conducted a breathalyser test on the driver, and he was not under the influence of alcohol,” Ghanpur CI Ch Karnakar Rao said.Police registered a case under Section 106(1) of the BNS for causing death by negligence. Tasleem is a native of Jharkhand.The truck was transporting coal from the Tadicherla mine operated by AMR Company to the Genco power plant near Chelpur. Officials said the vehicle had a valid permit and the driver possessed a valid licence.A native of Maripeda mandal in Mahabubabad district, Venkanna joined the transport department as an assistant motor vehicle inspector 17 years ago. His body was shifted to the Bhupalpally govt hospital for postmortem examination.District SP Sirisetti Sankeerth said the case is being investigated from all angles.Chief minister A Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the incident and assured full support to the bereaved family.Special chief secretary (transport), Vikas Raj, appointed joint transport commissioner M Chandra Shekhar Goud as the inquiry officer to conduct a detailed probe and submit a report to the govt.Transport minister Ponnam Prabhakar visited Venkanna’s family in Hanumakonda and assured assistance.Venkanna is survived by his wife and three children.
