Three students of the Chellamal Women's College were mowed down by a water tanker at Anna Salai in Chennai on Thursday.

Four others were injured in the accident which is said to have happened near the SPIC office building.

The driver of the tanker escaped the scene, reported The Times of India.

The three have been identified as Chitra, Gayathri and Ayesha. While Chitra, Gayathri were second year B. Com students, Ayesha was in her third year of the same course.

The accident triggered protests from locals which resulted in a traffic jam on the route connecting Guindy and Little Mount.

(This is a developing story. More details awaited.)