In a horrific road accident, eight tourists from Kerala, belonging to the same family, were killed and five others seriously injured after their van plunged off a hairpin bend on the Valparai ghat road.
The victims were returning from Valparai to Pollachi when the vehicle lost control at the 13th hairpin bend around 5 pm. The van reportedly overturned and rolled down to the 9th hairpin bend, falling nearly 800 feet onto rocky terrain.
According to initial reports, all eight victims died on the spot, while the injured were rushed to hospital. Officials stated that all the tourists were from Perinthalmanna. The deceased included one man and seven women.
The injured, including the driver, were admitted to the Pollachi Government Hospital, where their condition is said to be critical. Among the injured are two boys aged 17 and 18. All five injured were transported by the 108 ambulance service.
Rescue teams from the Fire Service and police reached the spot to find the vehicle completely mangled, with bodies strewn across the area. A police team led by the Valparai Deputy Superintendent of Police carried out the rescue operation and sent the bodies for post-mortem examination.
Further details are awaited.