Protest as mining guard dies in mishap

Solan, October 25

Residents of Purruwala in Paonta Sahib staged a protest here today when a 24-year old mining guard, identified as Ajay Sharma, who was riding a motorcycle, died after being crushed under a loaded tipper near Dak Pather today.

Veer Bahadur, DSP, Paonta Sahib, said the accident took place when the mining guard overtook the tipper, and owing to a pothole on the road, the driver took a sudden turn and hit Sharma’s bike. Sharma fell on the road, and was crushed below the rear tyre of the tipper. He died on the spot.

While the police were trying to take the body for autopsy, the locals lodged a protest. They placed his body on the road and resented the rash and negligent driving of tippers in the area.

The deceased, who was the sole breadwinner of his family, was deputed as a guard after the death of his father, a few months ago. Local MLA and Power Minister Sukh Ram Chaudhary also faced the ire of the locals. He made the aggrieved family speak to the Chief Minister, who assured them of help.

It had been decided that vehicles carrying quarry material would ply only between 9:00 pm and 5:00 am. — TNS