Nine tourists from Kerala lost their lives and four others were seriously injured after a van fell into a deep gorge along the Valparai–Pollachi ghat road in Tamil Nadu on Friday evening.
Accident site and rescue visuals
The accident occurred near the 13th hairpin bend under Kadamparai police limits around 5:15 pm. The group was returning from a sightseeing trip to Valparai when the driver reportedly lost control while navigating a sharp curve. The vehicle skidded off the road and tumbled several hundred feet down a steep, forested slope before coming to rest near a lower bend.
Victims and injured
The victims were part of a 13-member group from Perinthalmanna in Malappuram district. Nine people died on the spot, including five teachers from a government school. The deceased have been identified as Ajitha (54), Ramla (52), Suhra (43), Asha (41), Majeeth (43), Sajitha (45), Shakeela (37), Ruqiya (39), and Hisham (12).
Four others—Nowshath (39), Shahadin (11), Maijn (10), and driver Mohammed Fasith (21)—were rescued with serious injuries. They were initially taken to the Government Hospital in Pollachi, with three later shifted to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.
Challenging rescue operation
Police and fire rescue teams rushed to the scene soon after the incident. Officials said the steep terrain and dense vegetation made rescue efforts extremely difficult. Despite the challenges, all survivors were pulled out and shifted to hospitals, while the bodies of the deceased were sent for postmortem.
Authorities from Coimbatore, including the district collector, visited the site to assess the situation. A case has been registered, and an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Condolences
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy, offering condolences to the families of the victims and wishing a speedy recovery to those injured.
