Chennai: Four labourers, including three women, were killed and eight others injured after a mini van carrying woodcutters crashed into a tractor loaded with cashew firewood near Panruti in Cuddalore district in the early hours of Sunday.The victims were identified as R Rani (60), R Ravi (58), K Gandhimathi (55) and S Sathya (32).Police said the accident occurred around 4.30 am on National Highway 36 at Panikankuppam near Panruti. The mini van, carrying 11 daily wage labourers from Ayipettai and Venkatampettai to a wood-cutting site, was attempting to overtake a tractor transporting cashew firewood to Panruti when it rammed into the vehicle from behind.The impact caused the stacked firewood logs on the tractor to topple onto the van, trapping the occupants inside.Local residents rushed to the spot and helped rescue the victims from beneath the logs. The injured were taken to Panruti govt hospital in 108 ambulances. Rani and Ravi died on the way to the hospital, while Gandhimathi and Sathya later succumbed to their injuries at the Cuddalore govt hospital.Eight others sustained serious injuries and are undergoing treatment at the Cuddalore govt hospital.The accident disrupted traffic on the highway for some time before police cleared the vehicles and restored normal movement.Kadampuliyur police have registered a case and detained the tractor driver for inquiry. Further investigations are under way to ascertain the circumstances that led to the crash.
