4 Kerala youth die as car plunges into canal

Police said that the car crashed into the parapet wall of a bridge and fell into the PAP canal killing four persons, while the fifth was rescued by a milk vendor bathing there. The bodies of three persons were retrieved while a search is on for the fourth person.

Police have identified the dead as J Alfa, 19, Judin Joy, 24, Jackson, 21, Amal, 21 and Lijo, 27 all hailing from Ernakulam in Kerala, who had gone on a trip to Munnar and were returning by car, when the mishap happened.

Police said Judin, who was driving the car lost control and crashed the vehicle into the parapet wall of the bridge. It then fell into the canal (12 feet deep) at 7.30 am.

Onlookers said that Alfa, who managed to come out of the car, was rescued safely by a milk vendor taking bath in the canal. All others, who were trapped in the car and died.

On receiving information, the fire and rescue personnel rushed to the spot and lifted out the car by deploying two cranes at 10.15am.

They found the lifeless bodies of Judin Joy, Jackson and Amal, while a search is on to the trace the body of Lijo (suspected to be washed away). Due to the accident, traffic was disrupted on the stretch for a while. The Gomangalam police have registered a case and further enquiries are on.