COIMBATORE: Two siblings were killed when a van carrying a Malayalee family collided with a lorry while they were returning from a temple festival in Kerala. Eight people were injured, including women and children in the van. The deceased have been identified as Sanajushree (7) and Mitran (5), sons of Monish Kumar and Indumati, residents of Kozhikode Vadakara. The accident took place on National Highway KG Chavadi in front of Meena Gas Agency Company at 5.30 am on Sunday. The van was driven by Monish Kumar (30), Indumati (26), Monish Kumar's mother Kanchana Kumari (50), Kanchanakumari's brother Erode Shastri Nagar, Chellamuthu Gounder Thottam Ramachandran (65), wife Sarika, Chellamuthu Gounder Thottam Ramachandran (65), wife Sarika (53), children Ranjitha (18) and Akshaya (14). And Nisar Ali (45) of Erode Shankhunagar, the owner of the van, were injured.

The accident took place while the group was returning to Erode. Police said that the van lost control and crashed into a lorry that had run out of fuel on the road near the Meena Gas Agency, causing the driver to fall asleep.

The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, hospital officials said. A case has been registered against Chinnaswamy (44) of Kamakshiamman Kovil Street, Alandura, Madhuvarayapuram, for driving a lorry illegally and causing an accident. Traffic on the national highway was disrupted for more than an hour in the morning following the accident.