Nine From Kerala Die In Road Mishap In Tamil Nadu's Valparai

Pollachi: Nine persons from Kerala died after the van (Tempo Traveller) in which they were travelling fell into an 800-feet deep gorge at Pollachi in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu.

Police said the van, enroute to Pollachi from Athirapilly, crashed into a guardrail at the 13th bend in Valparai. The van was carrying students and teachers of Pang Palliparamba School in Malappuram district of Kerala. Some of the teachers on board the van were accompanied by their family members.

The deceased were identified as Ajitha (54), a native of Pulamanthol and the school's headmistress; Ramla (52); Suhara (43); Asha (41); Majeed (43); Sajitha (45); Shakeela (37), Rukhiya (39), all teachers and natives of Pang. This apart, the deceased include the driver of the van Naushad (39).

Police said the van was carrying 16 passengers. After touring Valparai, the passengers were returning to Kerala via Pollachi on Friday evening when the mishap occurred. "At the 13th Kondai Ayu bend on the Valparai Hill Road, the driver lost control of the vehicle which hit the guardrail and fell into an 800-feet deep gorge in the forest," said a police officer.

Those injured in the mishap were taken to Pollachi Government Hospital for treatment. The bodies of the deceased were recovered by personnel of Valparai police and fire department. The vehicle was mangled in the mishap.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased. In a post on X, he said, "I was deeply saddened to learn of the accident that occurred in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. I extend my deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this accident. I pray that the injured recover swiftly".

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