THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A man and daughter were killed in an accident at Choorakkattpalayam, near Valiyasala, Thampanoor. Their bike crashed with a Torres lorry and both of them died on the spot. They have been identified as 45-year-ild ex military man Samji C Kumar and his 15 year old daughter Dhanya S S. The accident happened on Sunday at 3 pm near the traffic signal in Choorakkattupalayam. Witnesses have revealed that the bike had overtaken the lorry through the left side. The police have arrested 28-year old lorry driver Ratheesh, native of Mudakkal into custody.

Samji was travelling from their house in Balaramapuram to a private hospital in Pattom. Dhanya is a tenth standard student of Nellimoodu convent school. She had won ‘A’ grade in vanchippaattu comeptition in the state youth festival this year. Her mother Suma is a teacher of Ooruttambalam School. Dhanya has a younger sibling Divya, studying in fifth standard. Samji retired from the army in 2010 after 20 years of service. He was working as an office staff in Vazhuthacaud NCC office. The bodies are kept in the Medical College mortuary and will be handed over to their relatives after post-mortem.