Six people, including four women, were killed on the spot and another one person was seriously injured when a lorry in which they were travelling plunged into an irrigation canal and capsized at Pallividai near Samayapuram on the Tiruchirapalli-Chennai national highway, in Tiruchirapalli early on Tuesday.
Police said the ill-fated lorry was proceeding to Chennai from Tuticorin with plantain load. The driver of the lorry gave lift to nine persons at Manapparai and all of them were travelling on the plantain load.
The driver lost his control over the vehicle at around 3.00 am due to which the lorry plunged into the roadside irrigation canal and capasized.
In the mishap, seven persons were trapped under the plantain consignment, while two others managed to escape. While six people, including four women were killed, another one person was rescued by a passerby and was admitted to the government headquarters hospital in Tiruchirapalli.
The identity of the deceased persons is yet to be known.
Police have registered a case and are investigating. Meanwhile a search in on to nab the driver, who is stated to be absconding.