Hyderabad, June 22 (IANS) A Telangana Road Transport Authority (RTA) official was killed when a speeding lorry ran over him during vehicle-checking in the state’s Jayashankar Bhupalapally district early on Monday, officials said.

The incident occurred near Chelpuru in Ganapuram mandal as RTA officials were checking vehicles.

A speeding lorry, laden with coal, lost control and hit Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) Venkanna, who, along with other employees, was checking the vehicles in front of the District Transport Office (DTO). The official died on the spot.

On receipt of information, police rushed to the spot and shifted the body to the Government General Hospital, Bhupalapally, for the post-mortem examination.

Police have arrested the lorry driver, who was driving his vehicle in a rash manner.

A case has been registered and the investigation taken up.

According to police, the incident occurred when Venkanna himself was regulating vehicles after stopping a harvester. As the harvester was being operated in violation of rules, the RTA officials had stopped it and were bringing it into the DTO. Meanwhile, Venkanna spotted a speeding lorry approaching the point and ordered it to slow down. However, the lorry driver apparently lost control and rammed into the official, resulting in his death.

The RTA employees were shocked by the death of the MVI in the tragic incident. As a section of the employees alleged that the official was deliberately killed, the police were conducting an investigation from all angles.

Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has expressed shock over the death of Motor Vehicle Inspector Venkanna while on duty.

The minister stated that Venkanna died on the spot after being struck by a tipper truck while conducting vehicle inspections near the Bhupalpally Transport Department office, and an inquiry into the accident has been ordered.

Conveying his condolences, he said the government will stand by the family of Venkanna, who lost his life while performing his duties.

–IANS

ms/vd