Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh:
Five persons died of asphyxiation after inhaling poisonous smoke when the chemical-laden van they were travelling in hit a lorry, police said today.
The accident took place during wee hours today when the van, which was delivering tins of chemical phenyl fluoro chloride from Hyderabad to a factory in West Godavari district, on board with 13 people, hit a parked lorry on the highway in Veeravalli village in Krishna district, Inspector Y V Raman of Hanuman junction circle police station said.
Lid of the chemical tins broke when the van rammed into the lorry, causing emanation of poisonous smoke. Four persons died on the spot, while the boy succumbed during treatment at the government hospital in Eluru, he said.
Condition of the three other injured is stated to be critical and have been shifted to a government hospital in Vijayawada, he said.
All the deceased and victims belonged to Peddipalem and Vemulapalem towns of East Godavari district but their identity is yet to be ascertained, Mr Raman added.
Meanwhile, senior police officials visited the spot today and a case was registered in this regard at the Veeravalli police station, the officer said.