Former teacher dies in bus-bike crash; eyes donated to give sight to two

THODUPUZHA: A former teacher who was seriously injured after a private bus hit the motorcycle she was travelling on died on Tuesday. The deceased was M.N. Vijimol, 57, a retired teacher of St. Mary’s Public School, Nagapuzha. She was the wife of former Kerala Kaumudi photographer R. Vinayachandran (Babu Surya).

The accident occurred around 6.45 p.m. on Sunday near Kochangadi at Madakkathanam on the Thodupuzha–Muvattupuzha route. Vijimol and her only son, Anuroop, were returning home after visiting a relative’s house in Piravom. The private bus, named Gurudevan, was travelling from Thodupuzha towards Muvattupuzha at high speed when it lost control while attempting to overtake another vehicle and hit the motorcycle. Vijimol and Anuroop were thrown onto the road in the impact. The two lay bleeding on the road for around 15 minutes before they were taken to a private hospital under the leadership of Manjalloor panchayat member Roby Thadathil. Vijimol, who suffered severe head injuries, was undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit and died on Tuesday morning. Anuroop sustained serious injuries.

Vijimol had served as the headmistress of Saraswathi School, Kalloorkkad. She had also worked at Thodupuzha Saraswathi Vidyabhavan Central School, Al-Azhar Public School and SH Public School, Purappuzha. She was a member of the Maliyekkal family of Alanad, Pala. Vazhakkulam police are conducting further proceedings. Her funeral will be held at her residence at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

Eyes to help two see

Vijimol’s eyes will help restore sight to two people. Following her brain death, the family consented to donate all her organs. However, the other organs could not be donated due to medical reasons.
The corneas were handed over to the Eye Bank Association at a private hospital in Angamaly. The procedure was coordinated by the Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (K-SOTTO).