Elderly man killed in accident near Karaikudi; relatives block NH alleging suspicion over death

An elderly man was killed after being hit by a lorry near Karaikudi here on Wednesday, leading to a road blockade by his relatives who suspected foul play in the incident.

Police said, the deceased has been identified as Pandi, 65, a resident of Amaravathi Pudur near Karaikudi. He served as the priest at a local temple. On Wednesday morning, while Pandi was walking to the temple, a tipper lorry rammed into him from behind.

As he succumbed to injuries on the spot, the lorry driver fled the scene. Claiming suspicion over the accident, Pandi’s relatives staged a sit-in protest on the Trichy–Rameswaram National Highway. They demanded the immediate arrest of the driver and a thorough investigation into the circumstances of his death.

As the protest caused a traffic snarl on the NH for over half an hour, Karaikudi Tehsildar Raja and the Somanathapuram Police arrived at the spot and engaged in talks with the protesters.

The relatives withdrew their protest and dispersed after officials assured them that appropriate legal action would be taken.

The Somanathapuram Police recovered the body and sent it to the Karaikudi Government Hospital for a post-mortem examination. A case has been registered, and a manhunt is underway to apprehend the absconding lorry driver.