The Podanur police are investigating the cause of the death of a woman found dead in Vellalore dumpyard. Speculations are rife that a lorry had accidentally dumped a large pile of garbage on the woman who was reportedly picking plastic wastes from the dump.
Coimbatore: On Thursday morning, a 52 -year-old woman was found dead trapped inside a pile of garbage in Vellalore dumpyard, here. The Podanur police are investigating the cause of the death, as speculations are rife that a lorry had accidentally dumped a large pile of garbage on the woman who was reportedly picking plastics from the dump.
Sivagami (52), wife of Murugan is a resident of Vellalore area and is survived by four children, including three girls. Today morning, Sivagami along with one of her daughter Ponni was engaged in picking plastic wastes from the dumpyard.
After the while, a panic-stricken Ponni reached out to help, as she was unable to find her mother in the vast premise of the dumpyard.
Immediately a few others in the vicinity along with Ponni searched for Sivagami and shockingly found her legs trapped under a heap of garbage in the 650 acre yard.
An unconscious Sivagami was declared dead by the medical team of a 108 ambulance, who were called upon by the rescuers.
The Podanur police who also reached the spot upon receiving information recovered Sivagami's body and sent it to the Coimbatore Government Hospital for autopsy.
While preliminary investigations are being carried out, the police are investigating if Sivagami was accidentally covered by the garbage pile dumped from the tipper trucks and died of suffocation or if she fainted off due to intense heat.
In response to the tragedy, Corporation officials have clarified that plastic waste segregation work at the dumpyard has been assigned to particular contractors and workers under them are only permitted to do engage in segregation work.
However, non-contract workers also reportedly enter the Vellalore dump yard to segregate plastics, among whom Sivagami was one, they said.
"Normally, when a truck dumps, heaps of wastes will get dispersed. Sivagami must have got trapped under the garbage, while trying to collect such plastic waste, though the actual cause of the death is not yet known. Various safety measures are being taken to prevent outsiders from entering the Vellalore dumpyard.
Going forward, walls will be constructed around the Vellalore garbage dump and surveillance cameras will also be installed to prevent such mishaps Strict orders have also been issued to security guards on duty to check on intruders", told Corporation sources.