Thrissur, September 5 (Daily Kiran) : A tragic road accident in Thrissur, Kerala, claimed the lives of eight engineering students from Dindigul, Tamil Nadu. The incident occurred late Saturday night when their vehicle collided with a parked truck on National Highway 66. College authorities revealed that the students undertook the trip without notifying them, raising questions about safety protocols.
The college learned of the accident only after being contacted by the Kerala police early Saturday morning. It is believed that the students organized the trip privately since the institution was on break. One of the deceased, identified as Santosh, had returned home before joining the trip.
Representatives from the college and relatives of the victims have already traveled to Thrissur. Reports indicate that five students died at the scene, while the others succumbed to their injuries later. The bodies were transported to Thrissur Medical College Hospital for postmortem examinations before being handed over to their families.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) stated that the car was speeding at the time of the accident. They confirmed that adequate warning signs and safety measures were in place on the highway and promised to cooperate with the investigation.
Local residents, however, raised concerns about highway safety and the illegal parking of heavy vehicles in the area. They alleged that three trucks were parked on the road at the time of the accident, and two of the drivers left the scene afterward. Residents also pointed to poor lighting, the absence of speed bumps, and improperly placed directional signs as contributing factors to the accident.
Historically, the Kapamangalam route has seen several serious accidents, including the recent death of actor and mimicry artist Kollam Sudhi in a similar incident. Minister O.J. Janish Kumar announced that an investigation will be conducted into the allegations of negligent parking by truck drivers. He criticized the NHAI for its safety measures during highway construction, noting that officials had previously been urged to provide adequate warnings and safety protocols.
The police are currently investigating the causes of the accident.
Leave a Comment