'Car braked suddenly, skidded on wet road, I tried to swerve as much as possible,' says driver Rajeev

ALAPPUZHA: An accident claimed the lives of five first-year MBBS students from Alappuzha Medical College after their car collided with a KSRTC bus near Changanassery in Kalarkode around 9:30 pm on Friday.

The victims, identified as Muhammed Jabbar from Kannur, Ayush Shaji from Kottayam, Devanand from Malappuram, Sreedev from Palakkad and Muhammed Ibrahim from Lakshadweep, were traveling with their classmates when the incident occurred. The collision also left several others critically injured.

According to KSRTC driver Rajeev, stationed at the Kayamkulam depot, heavy rain likely caused the car to skid and lose control. "The car braked suddenly, skidded on the wet road and came under the bus. I tried to swerve as much as possible, but there was a roadside post limiting my movement. The heavy rain might have reduced their visibility," he explained.

The bus was a fast passenger service from Guruvayur to Kayamkulam. Following the crash, local residents rushed to the scene and began rescue efforts after the bus was moved back slightly. The car, a Tavera, was completely destroyed in the accident. Three students seated in the front and two in the back died on the spot. The remaining passengers—Gowreeshankar, Krishnadev, Alvin, Muhsin, Zain and Anand—were rushed to hospitals in Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram.

Gowreeshankar, the car's driver, sustained a broken leg. Alvin is in critical condition and has been placed on a ventilator. Other injured students are stable and receiving treatment. Reports suggest that the group, comprising 11 medical students, was heading to Alappuzha from Vandanam to watch a movie when the accident occurred.