Kakinada, Sept 14 (UNI) Sixteen agricultural labourers were killed and ten others injured seriously when the quarry ash-laden lorry they were traveling in, went out of control and overturned on the National Highway on the outskirts of Gandepalli village near Rajahmundry in the wee hours today. The accident occurred when all the victims in the age group of 20-45 years, were returning to their native villages in Sankhavaram,Tuni and Thondangi mandal on completion of agricultural operations in West Godavari district. All of them, totaling 35, had boarded the lorry at Eluru bypass road junction near Sankarampudi and travelled sitting atop the quarry ash. As the lorry overturned, they came under the ash and 16 of them lost their lives. Among the workers, only three escaped unhurt, six with minor injuries while ten others suffered serious injuries. Those critically injured have been rushed to government hospital at Rajahmundry. The driver and the cleaner ran away fearing arrest. East Godavari SP Misala Raviprakash and Collector H Arun Kumar have rushed to the spot and were personally supervising the relief operations. Mr Raviprakash told UNI that driver’s negligence has led to the tragic accident . More UNI XR KNR AE