Two Sabarimala devotees killed in car-bus collision in Chadayamangalam

KOLLAM: Two people were killed and three sustained serious injuries when a car carrying Sabarimala devotees collided with a tourist bus in Chadayamangalam. The two dead identified as Saravanan and Shanmukhan Achari (70) of Radhapuram at Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu were passengers of the car. The accident happened last night at 11.30 pm at Nettethara in Chadayamangalam. The car going to Thiruvananthapuram collided with the bus proceeding towards Kottarakkara.

The Maharashtra registered car was completely destroyed in the accident. Three others in the car are undergoing treatment with serious injuries. Rescue operations were carried out by locals immediately after the accident. The injured were first taken to Kadakkal Taluk Hospital and then to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital in ambulances.

One died on the spot itself. Four seriously injured people were taken to the hospital, but one died this morning. Three people, including two children, are undergoing treatment in Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital. The body of one is in the morgue of the Kadakkal Taluk Hospital.

The car that met with the accident was returning after Sabarimala darshan. The cause of the accident is not clear. The initial conclusion is that the driver of the car may have dozed off. The police and the motor vehicles department are investigating the matter. The bus driver said the car coming from the wrong direction hit the bus. However, eyewitnesses said the tourist bus was overtaking another vehicle when it hit the car.