Trichy: A 32-year-old government doctor choked to death after the car he drove was submerged by stagnant rainwater which flooded the train underpass in Thudaiyur in the Pudukkottai district on Friday night.
The deceased, C Sathiya, a surgeon assistant at a government hospital in Hosur, traveled along with his mother-in-law Jayam Ammm, 67, who was saved.
The IntriaRur police who were investigating said the underpass was flooded with heavy rain which had hit the area since night.
“Not realizing that water stagnant was quite deep into soaking the car, Dr.
Sathiya drove,” said Police Sub-Inspector B Abdul Razzak.
He said Maruti Alto was stuck when approaching the middle of the underpass where the water was inside.
“When the car stopped, he tried to get out but he could not open the seat belt.
It tells it to his death,” the inspector told toi.
A truck came in the opposite direction also stopped in the middle of the lower road.
Razak said the truck driver who saw the incident was seeking help from local people who managed to save Jayam Ammm.
The deceased, C Sathiya, a surgeon assistant at a government hospital in Hosur, traveled along with his mother-in-law Jayam Ammm, 67, who was saved.
While Si said Jayam was in the front seat, police deputy supervisor of Division Division officer and Income (RDO) Iluppur MS Balathandayudhapani said the woman was in the back seat.
Local people managed to remove Sathiya from the car and in a hurry to the hospital but their efforts were in vain.
Dean Dean’s medical hospital Dr.
M M Poovathi said Dr.
Sathiya was taken dead.
DSP Sivasubramanian said the woman died of being weak in the car.
He survived his husband Sivakumar, 40, a native of Thudaiyur, and two children.
Even though post-mortem was carried out on the body, it was stored in a morgue for close relatives to return from abroad.
Meanwhile, local people Irate blocked the road at night protested the lack of safety measures from the train to maintain underpasses, which came under the Division of Madurai train, risk-free.
The police managed to convince people to leave protests.
On Saturday, the Peace Committee meeting led by RDO Balathandayudapan was held.
“The train must take safety steps to drain water every time it rains but they fail to do it.
As requested by the people, unmanned train gates have been reopened and underpasses closed,” RDO said.