Two persons were killed after the motorcycle they were travelling in was rammed by a tanker lorry near Cherthala on Saturday.
According to the police, the deceased have been identified as Dhanesh, 27, of Kadakkarappally, Cherthala and Rahul, 22, of Nehru Trophy Ward, Alappuzha.
The incident occurred around 9.30 a.m. on the National Highway at the 11{+t}{+h}mile junction when the two were returning to Alappuzha from Cherthala. The motorcycle, which was rode by Rahul, was proceeding along the highway behind a tipper lorry. He was forced to apply the brake after the lorry came to a sudden halt. However, a tanker lorry, which followed close behind, went on to hit the two-wheeler and the tipper lorry.
The severe head injuries sustained by the duo resulted in their deaths. They were declared dead on arrival at the Cherthala taluk hospital. The bodies were handed over to the next-of-kin of both victims after completing the post- mortem.
The driver of the tanker lorry fled soon after the incident. The police was yet to arrest the person, against whom a case has been registered.
It was also ascertained that there was no leakage of gas from the tanker lorry, the police said. The incident led to a traffic standstill for nearly a hour along the national highway.
The driver of the tanker lorry fled soon after the incident.
