Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed deep sadness over a tragic road accident in Coimbatore where nine tourists from Kerala lost their lives after a van fell into a gorge. Kharge, in a social media post, offered heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured. He emphasized the pressing need for enhanced road safety measures in light of the incident.
On April 17, a group of holidaymakers from Kerala’s Malappuram district met with a fatal accident in Tamil Nadu’s Valparai, resulting in nine fatalities and multiple injuries. The victims, part of a group of teachers and others from Perinthalmanna on a leisure trip, were traveling in a mini traveler van that was involved in an accident at the 13th hairpin bend on the Pollachi–Valparai ghat road. The van, reportedly coming from the Thrissur side, lost control, crashed into the guard rail, and plunged towards the 8th hairpin bend, leaving the vehicle severely damaged.
The van carried 12 teachers and a driver, including individuals associated with the GLP School at Pang in Malappuram. The injured were promptly taken to a government hospital in Pollachi, with some in critical condition. A group of relatives and friends of the victims headed to Coimbatore to assist with the transportation of the injured and the deceased. The Pollachi–Valparai route, known for its challenging terrain with over 40 sharp hairpin bends, poses difficulties for drivers, especially those unfamiliar with ghat roads.
The accident, which occurred on a Friday evening, has deeply affected Kerala, particularly the Malappuram district, sending shockwaves through the community.
