Five individuals, including four pilgrims, lost their lives, and three others were injured in two distinct road accidents in Siruvachur and Mangalamedu, Perambalur district over the weekend.
In the first tragic incident, a car struck a group of devotees en route to the Samayapuram temple near the Siruvachur bridge early Saturday morning. The collision occurred as the car, traveling from Chennai to Tiruchy, hit the group from behind, resulting in the deaths of three women from Cuddalore and Salem districts.
Among the injured were three individuals from Tholar Kudikadu, who were promptly taken to Perambalur Government Hospital for medical attention. Tragically, one of the critically injured devotees succumbed to her injuries, raising the death toll to four.
The deceased were transported to the Perambalur Government Hospital for post-mortem examinations, while the driver responsible for the accident, identified as S. Gowtham from Tirusulam in Chennai, has been apprehended by the authorities.
A witness at the scene recounted that the devotees were walking cautiously when the unforeseen accident took place, with a car unexpectedly colliding with them, leaving the group in shock and disbelief.
In a separate incident on Friday night, S. Navshad Ali from V. Kalathur in Perambalur district lost his life in a collision with a wood-carrying lorry while riding his two-wheeler near Thirumandurai on the Chennai–Tiruchy National Highway.
Mangalamedu police responded swiftly, recovering Ali’s body and sending it for post-mortem examination, as investigations continue to determine the precise circumstances surrounding the accident.
