Bike rider, others suffer burns in acid leak from lorry in Kochi

A motorbike rider and other unidentified people suffered burns when suspected sulphuric acid that leaked from a moving tanker lorry fell on them near Thevara Ferry Signal junction in Kochi on Tuesday.

The incident happened around 7 p.m., when the lorry carrying the highly corrosive liquid had reached the western end of the Kundannur-Thevara ferry bridge. The police on Wednesday booked the driver of the lorry based on a complaint filed by Bineesh Subrahmanian, 36, of Kandakadavukara, Kumbalangi, who suffered burns to his neck and both hands in the incident. Mr. Bineesh has been admitted to the Ernakulam General Hospital.

The police have stated in the first information report that the complainant and others who were passing by the lorry sustained burns in the incident as the vehicle was driven in a reckless manner and without adequate safety measures. The driver, who has not been identified in the FIR, has been charged with Section 281 (rash or negligent driving) and 125 (endangering human life or personal safety through rash or negligent acts) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.