Sabarimala Pilgrimage Ends in Tragedy as Drowsy Driving Leads to Fatal Crash
A somber cloud has descended over a Sabarimala pilgrimage journey after a devastating head-on collision between a car and a minibus in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district. The tragic accident on Thursday claimed the life of a young devotee from Andhra Pradesh and left six others with serious injuries.
The fatal Sabarimala accident occurred around 12 noon near the Mandiram Junction on the busy Punalur-Muvattupuzha state highway. According to preliminary reports from the authorities, the driver of the car carrying the pilgrims dozed off at the wheel, leading to the catastrophic mishap.
Victims Identified, Rescue Operation Launched
The sole fatality has been identified as 22-year-old Vinod from Ongole in Andhra Pradesh. The six individuals who sustained serious injuries include passengers from both vehicles.
From the car:
- Narasimha (29)
- Kottireddy (27)
- Shiva (18)
From the minibus:
- Saravanavel (55) from Trichy, Tamil Nadu
- Murali (41) from Trichy, Tamil Nadu
- Isakkiyappan (38) from Trichy, Tamil Nadu
The impact of the Ranni collision was so severe that the car was completely wrecked. A combined team of police, fire brigade personnel, and local residents had to cut open the vehicle to rescue the trapped passengers.
Medical Response and Aftermath
Following the rescue, all the injured were initially rushed to the Ranni taluk hospital for emergency care. Given the seriousness of their conditions, they were later referred and admitted to the Kottayam medical college hospital for advanced treatment.
The accident involved a car traveling from Ranni and a minibus coming from the opposite direction, from Pathanamthitta. This latest Kerala road accident has once again highlighted the perils of long-distance travel, especially for pilgrims, and the critical importance of driver alertness on highways.
Local authorities are investigating the exact sequence of events. The community in Ranni and the families of the victims, now spread across Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, are left grappling with the sudden tragedy that struck in the middle of a spiritual journey.
