Kottayam: Five persons, including four of a family, were killed and six others of the family were injured when a private bus rammed into their Tavera car at Pushpagiri near Thankamany in Idukki district on Friday evening. The speeding ‘Elite’ bus, which was coming from Kattapana and heading to Murikkasserry, hit the car coming from Murikkasserry destroying the car completely around 3.30 p.m. There were 11 persons in the car, including the driver. Five of them died on the spot, said the police.
The deceased were identified as driver Tijo, 24, of Nedumplackal, Kanjirapally, Shaju, 45, of Kochuparampil, Kanjirapally, his one-and-a-half- year-old son, Evan, Jane Rose, 34, sister of Shaju, and Achamma,70, mother of Shaju. The six injured were admitted to St John’s Hospital, Kattapana. They are Rincy, 37, wife of Shaju, Biju, 43, brother of Shaju, and Christo, 10, Kevin, 7, Kelvin,3, children of Shaju; and Sera,7, daughter of Jane Rose. Four of those who died were taken out by the locals, and driver Tijo by the fire force personnel who broke open the car. The police immediately reached the accident spot which is eight km from Thankamany.
Remains of the Tavera car that met with the accident. Mr Jobin George, SI, told DC that the mishap might have resulted from the competition between the private bus and a KSRTC bus. The car was also in high speed, said the locals. The police registered a case of culpable homicide against bus driver Johnson. The driver, the cleaner and the conductor of the bus initially took part in the rescue operations, but fled from there later. The front portion of the bus was damaged slightly injuring a few passengers. The bodies of the five were kept at the mortuary of the Medical Trust Hospital, Mundakkayam, and the post-mortem will be held at Kottayam MCH on Saturday morning. Earlier, the inquest of the bodies was held at St John’s Hospital, Kattapana.
