Homeland bids tearful adieu to eight students of Kaipamangalam tragedy

THRISSUR: The bodies of all eight students of the PSNA Engineering College in Dindigul, killed in the Kaipamangalam-Panambikunnu National Highway road accident, have been cremated. The cremation of V. Viswa (21), a native of Salem Goundamapatti, was performed on Sunday. The bodies of the others were cremated in their respective villages by Saturday night.

Jeeva (20), a native of Dindigul Vaithilathopampatti, I.S. Surya (20), a native of Nallampatti, I.S. Surya (20), a native of Madurai Navinipatti, J. Joshua Hilson (21), a native of Old Vilangudi, M. Muralikrishnan (21), a native of Ayyankottai and R Prasanna (21), a native of Viragannur, and Yuvasanjith(21), a native of Kalanjipatti, Dindigul. A decision will be taken in the cabinet meeting to be held today regarding providing assistance to their families, Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister S. Rajesh Kumar said in Thrissur. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay expressed grief over the incident.

The car the students were travelling in crashed into a parked goods lorry near Kaipamangalam-Panambikunnu National Highway in the wee hours of Friday night. It is learnt that the students were on their way to Kerala to celebrate the purchase of a new car by their friend. A team led by Kodungallur DySP R. Ratheesh Kumar has started an investigation into the incident.

In the wake of the accident, the police and the Motor Vehicle Department have intensified measures against illegal parking. Thrissur District Collector Shikha Surendran has directed that special drives be intensified and action be taken by registering an FIR if necessary. It has been found that goods lorries are parked illegally on the national highway without even turning on the parking lights. A team comprising the NHAI Project Director, police, Motor Vehicle Department and local body representatives will conduct an inspection.