Tragedy on way to Onam celebration: Security guard killed by KSRTC bus

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 68-year-old security guard was killed after being hit by a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus at East Fort while he was on his way to attend an Onam celebration on Friday. Premkumar died in the accident, which occurred at around 12.40 pm near the Pazhavangadi Ganapathy Temple at East Fort.

The bus, operated from the KSRTC Venjaramoodu depot, was leaving East Fort when it hit Premkumar. He fell on the road and the bus's front wheel ran over his body. The driver stopped the bus after pedestrians raised an alarm and immediately reversed it to free Premkumar from beneath the tyre. He was rushed to the General Hospital in an ambulance but died on the way.

Premkumar was a temporary security employee of the Archaeology Department. He was working at Sreepadam Palace, located on the northern side of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. He was on his way to attend the Onam celebration organised at the Archaeology Directorate inside the Fort. After getting off the bus at East Fort, he was walking along the roadside in front of the Pazhavangadi Ganapathy Temple when the accident occurred.

Fort police have registered a case against the bus driver for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Premkumar's body has been kept at the General Hospital mortuary. The funeral will be held at Puthencottah crematorium at around 1 pm on Saturday after the post-mortem examination.
He is survived by his wife, Shanthakumari; children, Ramesh and Rajani; and in-laws, Rajani and Raghu.