Reckless driving turns roads into death traps; four killed in two days

ALUVA/KOCHI: Four people, including two schoolchildren, were killed in road accidents in just two days due to reckless driving and speeding. The tragic incidents come even as the High Court has issued directions to curb dangerous driving that turns roads into death traps.

Eleven-year-old Amanul Haris, son of Rafeeq of Valiyaveettil, Panayikkulam, was killed on the spot on Sunday when a speeding mini-lorry hit his bicycle. The accident occurred around 9.45 am as he was entering the narrow, old Onjithodu bridge at Padinjare Kadungalloor. The lorry hit the bicycle from behind. Amanul was a Class 6 student of St Francis School, Aluva. He was returning home from a tuition centre in Kadungalloor. Raju, a native of Keezhmad and the owner and driver of the lorry, was arrested.

Nine-year-old Rhea Rajesh was killed when a car went out of control and hit her in Muvattupuzha on Saturday morning. She was the daughter of Rajesh and Reshma of Parappurath House, Hostelpady, Muvattupuzha. Her grandmother Lekha and a motorcycle rider were injured in the accident.

Two women were killed in separate accidents in Mavelikkara and Changanassery the other day. Annie Babu (56), wife of Babu George of Thattaraparambil, Chennithala South, was killed when a tipper lorry hit her in Mavelikkara. Pravitha (37), wife of Santhosh of Veliyanad Tharayil, was killed when a mini-lorry hit her near the Perunna bus stand in Changanassery.

After the post-mortem at the Aluva District Hospital, Amanul's body was buried at the Panayikkulam mosque on Sunday evening. His mother is Haseena. He leaves behind his brothers Ameen and Afra. Rhea's funeral was also held on Sunday.

Traffic police officer hit by bus

A traffic police officer was injured after a speeding private bus knocked him down while he was regulating traffic at the High Court Junction in Kochi. The accident occurred around 7.25 pm on Saturday.

The injured officer, M.S. Sreedath (39), a Civil Police Officer attached to the Ernakulam Traffic West Station and a native of Kattamangalam, Paravur, suffered an injury to his left knee. The bus, 'Mahatma', operates on the Kakkanad route. Central Police arrested its driver, Aneesh, a native of Kakkanad.

Kochi City Police Commissioner R. Nishanthini said strict action had been initiated to put an end to the dangerous racing by private buses. Action would also be tightened against other vehicles involved in accidents. Drivers with a history of causing accidents would be tracked down, she said.