Chittar: Giant wheel accident claims boy's sister too

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The giant wheel accident that occurred at  Chittar in Pathanamthitta on September 8 has claimed another life with Priyanka, 15, succumbing to her injuries on Saturday. She is the sister of Alan, 5, who fell from the giant wheel and died on the spot  that day. Priyanka, Alan and  Nimmy, children of Kulathungal Saji and Bindu, were enjoying the ride  when Alan lost his grip at a height of 20 feet and fell while their parents were watching.  

Priyanka, who tried to save him,  also crashed and sustained serious brain and lung injuries. Nimmy was sitting in another bucket of the wheel. The liver and kidneys of Priyanka, who was undergoing treatment at a private hospital at Thiruvalla, were donated. Thodupuzha native Sabu, who has been waiting for a donor at KIMS hospital here, received  her liver.  She was a 10th standard student of Chittar Higher Secondary School.

It was alleged that no safety measures were taken for operating the giant wheel and that the organisers had not obtained permission from the panchayat or the fire and rescue service department. The Chittar police took two operators of the wheel  into custody. The device  was also installed close to a high tension 11 KV power line at Delta grounds as part of an Onam fair organised by Green Events under the nose of the police.