COIMBATORE: In the wake of the deaths of five people after a speeding car hit a stationary tanker truck that was used for watering plants on the median of the Pollachi–Udumalpet stretch of National Highway 83 on Sunday, Coimbatore district superintendent of police A Pavan Kumar has taken steps to hold a meeting with National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials to avoid such accidents.According to the locals who witnessed the crash, the tanker truck was stationed on the right side of the road near the median and workers were involved in watering the plants on the median. There was no sign to indicate the stationary truck, and no worker was deployed to divert moving vehicles. Usually, a worker holding a red flag is deployed to indicate that the truck is stationed on the road.NHAI and Coimbatore corporation have been maintaining plants on the medians on the state and national highways. These plants are being watered by the workers deployed by the respective departments during morning and evening hours.Following Sunday’s accident, the SP has approached the district collector to hold a meeting with NHAI officials. He said, “The accident that took place near Pollachi is horrible. So, we are planning to look for alternative methods for watering the plants. Instead of stationing a truck on the road, we have to look for an alternative method which could be safer for both workers and motorists.”
