One killed as vehicles carrying Sabarimala pilgrims collide head on

One person was killed and nine others were injured when two vehicles carrying Sabarimala pilgrims collided head on along the Punalur-Muvattupuzha Road near Ranni on Thursday. The deceased was identified as Vinod (22), a native of Andhra Pradesh.

The accident occurred at Mandiram Padi in Ranni when a Karnataka-registered car carrying four Ayyappa devotees rammed into a mini bus that had arrived from Pathanamthitta. The mini bus was carrying pilgrims from Tamil Nadu. The car was completely damaged in the crash. Preliminary investigation suggests that the car driver may have dozed off behind the wheel, leading to the collision.

Vinod, who was seated in the front along with the driver, died on the spot. Of the two passengers seated in the rear, one sustained serious head injuries and was shifted to Kottayam Medical College Hospital, while the other suffered minor injuries. Two pilgrims travelling in the mini bus also sustained injuries. Those suffered minor injuries were taken to taluk hospital.

The body of the deceased was trapped inside the wreckage, and was retrieved after police and Fire and Rescue Services personnel cut open the vehicle.