Car swept away by overflowing river while trying to cross bridge, route was set on Google Maps

KASARAGOD: Amid heavy rainfall, a Swift car was swept away by an overflowing river as it was crossing the Pallanji Bridge with no handrails, in Kolichal Reach in Edapparambu. Thasrif, a native of 7th Mile, and Abdul Rasheed, a native of Ambalathara of Periya panchayat in Pullooor, who were in the car, miraculously escaped.

The incident occurred at 6 am on Thursday. Due to the night's heavy rain, water was flowing over the Palanji Pipe Bridge, but the shape of the bridge was visible. This encouraged the passengers of the car to take the vehicle forward as the route was set in Google Maps. However, on entering the bridge, the car slid off the bridge and fell into the river in a sudden flash flood.

Immediately after the accident, one of the passengers contacted the fire force in Kuttikkol from inside the car. In the meantime, as the car started moving in the strong current, the passengers came out by opening the glass. They swam and held on to the tree in the middle of the river.

Both sides of the river are protected forest areas. Local residents came to know about the incident after hearing the siren of the fire force vehicle. When the fire brigade arrived, both of them were holding on to a tree in the middle of the river. With the help of the locals, the fire force team rescued both of them. By that time, the car was washed about a hundred metres away. The fire force said that the passengers were rescued without any injuries. The accident occurred at a place where the construction of the hilly highway was stopped due to non-release of forest land.