Four killed after car collides with bus carrying Sabarimala pilgrims

Four people were killed when a car collided with a bus carrying Sabarimala devotees near Murinjakallu, Konni, in the early hours of Sunday.

The deceased have been identified as Mathai Eapen, Biju P. George, Anu, and Nikhil, all residents of Mallassery near Pathanamthitta. Mathai Eapen was the father of Nikhil, while Biju P. George was the father of Anu.

According to police reports, the accident occurred around 3.30 a.m. on the Murinjakallu-Kalanjoor stretch of the Punalur-Muvattupuzha road. The victims were returning to Pathanamthitta from Thiruvananthapuram airport after picking up Nikhil and his wife Anu, who had just returned from a vacation in Malaysia. Preliminary investigations attributed the accident to Biju P. George, who was driving the car, dozing off behind the wheels.

The car veered off its track and slammed into the right side of a bus carrying 19 pilgrims from Telangana. None of the bus passengers sustained serious injuries.

Local residents rushed to the scene immediately after the accident and initiated rescue operations. A police and Fire and Rescue team too joined in. The car’s passengers were extricated from the mangled vehicle after cutting it open and were taken to the hospital. Three of them were declared dead on arrival, while Anu succumbed to her injuries after being admitted.

Residents in the area pointed out that the stretch of road where the accident occurred lacked width and has been the site of numerous accidents in recent years.

Published - December 15, 2024 07:01 pm IST