The Hindu : Front Page : Six killed as bus falls into river

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Six killed as bus falls into river

Staff Reporter

Kottayam: Six persons were killed and more than 35 injured when a KSRTC bus coming from Kumaly fell off the bridge near Sree Krishnaswamy temple into Azhutha River at Peerumadu on Monday night. The accident occurred around 9.15 p.m.

Only four of the dead were identified at the time of filing this report. They were Wilson belonging to Chammannar near Elappara, Mathai (60) from Murinjapuzha, Ajmal Kajah from Kumbum and Sivanandan (42) from Wembly near Koottikkal who was working as superintendent at the office of the Deputy Director of Education at Kottayam.

The driver of the bus had apparently lost control of the vehicle. It was coming at normal speed, according to eyewitnesses. The bus, which hit the rocky bottom of the river, almost broke into two. According to conductor Ramakrishnan, who was admitted to Peerumedu taluk hospital, there were 45 passengers in the bus.

Of the injured, 14 were admitted at Peerumade taluk hospital and 12 at Kottayam Medical College Hospital. Three of the injured admitted in the medical college hospital were in a serious condition. The rest were admitted to Kanjirappally taluk hospital. Rescue operations were started by local people immediately after the accident.

Fire and Rescue Services personnel from Ealppara and Kanjirappally were also pressed into service.

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