Worst accident in past 70 years; two people in critical condition

MALAPPURAM: An 11-year-old girl, Masneena, who was injured in the Valparai road accident, has been brought back home and shifted to Moulana Hospital in Perinthalmanna. The condition of tempo traveller driver Mohammed Faiz (22) and school bus driver Noushad Ali, who are being treated at Coimbatore Medical College, remains critical. Another injured child, Shahadeen Mohammed (11), has been shifted to a ward after his condition improved.

The bodies of those who died in the accident were taken to a nearby mosque for public viewing after a postmortem at Pollachi Government Hospital, and later moved to Kerala. Minister V Sivankutty and MLA KT Jaleel visited the injured at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital.

The accident, which took place on Friday evening near Attakatti close to Aliyar Dam in Tamil Nadu, is considered one of the worst on the Malakkappara-Valparai route in the past 70 years. The vehicle fell more than 700 feet from the 13th hairpin bend and landed on the road at the 9th bend, getting completely crushed.

Locals rushed to the spot and cut open the vehicle to rescue four people trapped inside. Five others were found lying on the road, while four more were stuck among rocks and trees below the 13th bend. The rescue operation was very difficult. Estate workers were the first to reach the spot, followed later by the Valparai police and ambulances. The group had started their journey from Athirappilly in the afternoon and met with the accident around 5 pm.

Error while turning vehicle at bend
It is reported that the accident happened due to an error while turning the vehicle at the 13th bend. The vehicle moved too close to the rock side, and one side hit a mud embankment, causing it to tilt and lose control. In panic, the driver tried to turn to the right, but the vehicle hit the barrier and fell down. The tempo traveller hit several points before finally landing on the road below.