28 tourists injured as van falls into gorge near Kovai

According to police, 30 persons including 22 women and children from Rajapalayam in Virudhunagar district had gone for a trip to Ooty. After sight-seeing, the tourists were returning from Ooty, when the incident happened around 4.30pm.

While nearing the first hair pin bend in Kallar, the driver Muthuraj (44) from Rajapalayam, lost control of the vehicle and the van crashed into a protection wall and rolled down into a 30-feet-gorge. 

As the tourists inside the van cried out in fear, the shocked passerby informed the Mettupalayam police. A police team immediately rushed to the spot and rescued the people trapped inside the van. They were then sent by 108 ambulance to Mettupalayam Government Hospital. 

Of the injured persons, five women identified as Sangareshwari (42), Mahalakshmi (20), Rajalakshmi (45), Vellaiduraichi (33) and Muthammal (50), all were taken to Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital for further treatment. 

 After preliminary inquiries, police said that the road was slippery as it was drizzling and could have resulted in the driver losing control of the vehicle. Police have registered a case and further inquiries are on.