Raipur/Kawardha,CG: In the horrific road accident that took place on Monday in Kawardha, Chhattisgarh, the police have registered a case against the driver and the owner. They were arrested on Wednesday.

Kabirdham district Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallav said that vehicle owner Ramkrishna Sahu and driver Dinesh Yadav, residents of Kukdur police station area, were arrested on charges of culpable homicide.

Pallav said that a case has been registered against both of them under sections 279 (rash driving), 337 (causing hurt by endangering the life or personal safety of others) and 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988.

The Superintendent of Police said that preliminary investigation revealed that the owner had allegedly given his goods vehicle on rent to transport people.

He said that he was aware that the road at Banjari Ghat is narrow and crooked and due to excessive crowd on the vehicle. It may lose control over it. The driver of the vehicle seated 35 people and loaded more luggage than required.

Pallav said that the matter is being investigated. It is also being said that the fitness test of the vehicle was not done.

On Monday, 19 people, mainly 18 women and one man had died when the pickup vehicle they were travelling overturned. Others were injured. All of them were tribals and returning after plucking of tendu leaves. The police had claimed that due to brake failure the incident occurred. The driver had escaped before the vehicle overturned.