Three boys killed, one injured after tractor skids off road in Theni

CHENNAI: Three boys were killed and one was injured near Thevaram in Theni district after a tractor, in which they were travelling, skidded off the road and turned turtle on Sunday night.

The tragic accident occurred at around 9 p.m. while they were returning after immersing Lord Vinayagar’s idol in the Mullaiperiyar river at Markayankottai as part of the Chathurthi festival.

The deceased victims have been identified as P Kishore (14), T Nivas (15) of Maravapatti village, and A Vishal (13) of PTR Colony, Uthamapalayam. Maruthupandi (13), the son of a tractor driver, suffered head injuries and was rushed to Theni Government Medical College Hospital.

“However, three others, who sat in the steering part of the tractor, escaped unhurt,” sources said. Theni Superintendent of Police R Shiva Prasad inspected the accident site and held enquiries.

Earlier, several boys, including the victims from Maravapatti village themselves, organised the idol procession.

Vinayagamurthy (45), who drove the tractor in a rash and negligent manner through a shortcut route instead of taking a main route through Sankarapuram, lost his control. The vehicle skidded off the road and flipped over between T. Sinthalacehri and Lakshminayakanpatti Road. Based on a complaint lodged by Muthukani (46), mother of Nivas, the deceased victim, Thevaram police filed a case under Section 106 of BNS and arrested the driver, sources said.