'Youthful exuberance goes tragically wrong'; Kerala mourns death of medical students

Five medical students lost their lives after their car rammed into a KSRTC bus on Monday night. Two others were seriously injured in the crash while the bus passengers in the front seat also suffered injuries. The victims are first-year MBBS students of Vandanam Medical College. They were heading towards the cinemas on Monday night when the foggy climate, incessant rains and overspeed turned villains.

According to onlookers, the Tavera car used by the students overtook a vehicle but came in close range of another bus coming in the opposite direction. The brakes were applied but the rain made the road slippery. The car thus skidded into the opposite lane and crashed into a KSRTC bus. Heavy rain, poor visibility and the youthful frivolities proved to be the deadly combination. The Alappuzha accident was horrific. But, it can evoke fear and responsibility in youths if they care to.

India is one of the countries with the highest number of road accidents and deaths. The related statistics prove that Kerala is also ahead in the accident rate. It is estimated that between 2022 and 2023, road accident deaths decreased by nine per cent. However, there were 3899 road accident deaths during this period as well. On average, more than one hundred and thirty road accidents occur here every day. The people who have to live as amputees due to injuries suffered from accidents are twice as many as those who die in such accidents.

The Kalarcode accident is heartbreaking for many reasons. The main being the tender age of the youths, who are yet to inculcate the seriousness of life. Most of Kerala were shocked and dejected reading the main news from yesterday’s newspapers. The pain of losing young children in such a tragic mishap is gruelling and unsettling.

It took just one moment of heedless act to end the dreams of many families. The years of hard work to earn a prized medical seat in a government medical college got thrown away in a second. No words of grief or repentance would change the brutal reality. Let’s hope that the two injured get well really soon. No amount of comforting words can soothe the heart-wrenching pain of those bereaved families. The pain will be indelible and will travel throughout their lives.

15 passengers of the bus involved in the Kalarcode accident were injured and had to be treated. There is no point in analyzing this anymore. A driver’s license alone doesn't make a good driver. Prudence and composure in crucial situations are a few criteria that gauge driving skills. In 2024, such adroit drivers are seldom seen in Kerala.