Tiruchirappalli, Oct. 16 -- More than 500 sand lorry owners and drivers staged a protest in front of the Public Works Department (PWD) office in Tiruchirappalli on Friday, demanding the immediate reopening of government-operated sand quarries across Tamil Nadu.

The protest, organised by the Tamil Nadu Sand Lorry Owners Association, turned tense after the association's representatives were reportedly not allowed to participate in talks with officials. The protesters subsequently staged a sit-in demonstration on the service road opposite the PWD office, demanding immediate government intervention.

According to the association, government-operated sand quarries across Tamil Nadu have remained non-operational since Enforcement Directorate (...