One killed, another washed away as tractor plunges into PAP canal in Coimbatore

Coimbatore: A 49-year-old daily wage labourer was killed and another washed away after a tractor with a trailer that was laden with dried cow dung fell into the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project (PAP) canal near Senjerimalai here on Tuesday.
Police identified the deceased as C Thangaraj, 40, of AD Colony at Manthiripalayam in Tirupur district. Fire and rescue services personnel are searching for Manikandan, who was washed away.
A police officer said Manthrachalam from Senjerimalai were in the business of selling dried cow dung to farmers. "The incident took place when the duo, along with another daily wage labourer Veeran, were travelling in a tractor laden with dried cow dung. Kuppan was at the wheel. He lost control over the vehicle, which fell into the PAP canal. Thangaraj jumped into the canal. One of the tyres of the tractor hit his head and he died on the spot."
Manikandan didn't know how to swim and got washed away in the PAP canal. Veran and Kuppan swam to safety and escaped with minor injuries, the officer said.
When alerted, fire and rescue services personnel launched a search for Manikandan. With the help of a crane, the tractor and its trailer have been pulled out from the canal.
The Sulthanpet police registered a case and further investigation is on.