'Didn't even spare kids, we escaped miraculously'; Family members inconsolable over Nattika accident

THRISSUR: The members of the nomadic family in Thrissur are still not out from the shock of the accident. Many cried their hearts out and were inconsolable. One woman from the tribe said she escaped miraculously only because of sleeping at the far end of the pavement.

“The vehicle first barged into a wall. Hearing the commotion, I woke up and saw the vehicle heading towards us. I had time to move away but the lorry ran over my brother his wife and son. After ramming over them. the vehicle took reverse and went over them again” Said the woman in tears.

Five including two children were killed after a timber lorry rammed over a group of people sleeping on the roadside. The accident happened Tuesday early morning around 3 am at Nattika in Thrissur. The lorry carrying timber lost control and ran over the sleeping people. The dead were nomads.

The accident happened on a flyover on the national highway near J K Theatre in Nattika. The flyover was covered with a barricade as construction work was underway. The timber lorry proceeding towards Kochi from Kannur ran over the 11 people sleeping on the roadside.

The dead have been identified as Kaliyappan (50), Jeevan (4), Nagamma (39) and Bengazhi (20). One is yet to be identified. The police have received information that the dead are natives of Chemmananthode, Govindapuram in Palakkad. All five died on the spot itself. Six have been admitted to Thrissur Medical College with serious injuries. They had been working in the area for years.