A devastating road accident in the early hours of Saturday claimed five lives and left seven others injured on the East Coast Road (ECR) in Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram district. The collision involved a speeding car and a stationary vehicle carrying pilgrims, resulting in immediate fatalities and critical injuries.
The Fatal Collision on East Coast Road
The tragedy unfolded near Keelakarai when a group of five Sabarimala pilgrims from Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh, en route to Rameswaram, had parked their car on the roadside to rest. Around 2 am, another car, driven by 30-year-old Mushtaq Ahmed, a local DMK functionary from Keelakarai, was traveling from Yerwadi. Police reported that Ahmed lost control of his speeding vehicle, which then violently rear-ended the parked car of the devotees.
Casualties and Rescue Efforts
The impact of the crash was severe. Three of the devotees died instantly, while one succumbed to injuries later in the hospital. The driver of the speeding car, Mushtaq Ahmed, also died on the spot. In total, five lives were lost.
The deceased pilgrims have been identified as:
- Ramachandra Rao, 55
- Apparao Naidu, 40
- Bandana Chandra Rao, 42
- Ramar, 45
All were from Andhra Pradesh.
One occupant from the parked car and six from the speeding vehicle sustained injuries and were rushed to hospitals. Five ambulances were dispatched to the scene. The critically injured were first taken to Keezhakarai Government Hospital for initial aid and then referred to Ramanathapuram Government Medical College Hospital.
D Mohammed Sahadath, an ambulance driver involved in the rescue, described the scene: "The car from AP which was hit from behind slammed into an electric pole in front, making it difficult to extract the victims from the mangled vehicle." He added that local residents played a crucial role in the rescue operations, helping to carry the injured to safety.
Aftermath and Investigation
Among the injured, 40-year-old Sri Ram is being treated at Ramanathapuram medical college hospital. Other injured individuals include Frizhar (20), Thivyan (19), Praveen (19), Jameel Rahman (15), and Madeswaran from Keelakarai. Ashrath Ali, 32, who was in critical condition, has been shifted to a private hospital in Madurai for advanced care.
The families of the pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh have been notified and are traveling to Ramanathapuram. Keelakarai police have registered a case and are conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the fatal accident on the East Coast Road.
