One-yr-old among nine killed as van runs amok in Thoothukudi

Chennai

Sources said that a group of 25 people from Irukkankudi in Virudhunagar district were returning home in a van after attending a family function at Kondyapancheri village in Thoothukudi district. While they were passing through Melakarandhai post at Madurai-Thoothukudi National Highway during the early hours on Monday, one of the rear tyres of the van got punctured.

So, the driver halted the vehicle on the roadside and was attending to the tyre, while the inmates were standing nearby.

At this juncture, a charcoal-laden lorry bound for Madurai from Thoothukudi bumped on the stationary van and in the impact, the van started moving and ran over some of the bystanders. Eight persons were killed on the spot and one more died on the way to the hospital.  

All the bodies were sent to Thoothukudi GH and the injured were admitted at Arupukottai GH.

On information, Thoothukudi SP M Ashwin Kotnis, who reached the spot, held enquiries. Masarpatti police have registered a case and are investigating. The driver of the lorry later surrendered at Ettiyapuram police station.
 
The deceased were identified as Vetrivel (25), Mariselvam (20), Saravanakumari (22), Sappani (28), Deepa (25), Pudhiya Raja(1), Rajalakshmi(35), Kamala (40) and Balamurugan (42). The three injured were identified as Pechiammal, Ramakrishnan and Balamurugan, the driver.