11 die in 2 accidents in Virudhunagar, Thanjavur districts

A group of people from Madhankovil near Sivakasi had gone to the Irukkankudi Mariamman temple to offer worship. A person called Gangaiyya, an ex-serviceman, had performed rituals in the temple and he had taken all of his relatives along in a van. 

While returning, Gangaiyya and some others went in an auto, while 23 of his relatives came back in the van. When the van neared a sharp turn in Ramachandrapuram village, its front wheel came loose and got detached. Following this, the driver lost control of the van and it plunged into a pit along the road.

After falling into the pit, it stopped in the vertical position. In the incident, five persons died on the spot, while a girl died in hospital. The deceased were identified as Guruvammal (65), Amutha (45), Pechiammal (50), Pothaiya (65), Manikandan (34) and Gurulakshmi (18).

Also, two persons sustained grievous injuries and were rushed to the Madurai GRH, while two others who suffered serious injuries were rushed to the Sivakasi GH for treatment. Virudhunagar SP Rajarajan visited the spot. Earlier, residents of Ramachandrapuram assisted police in the rescue effort and sent the injured in eight ambulances. The mobile phone of Pothiraj, a resident, was stolen when he was involved in the rescue effort.

Five people were killed and two others were injured in a collision involving a car and a lorry near Thanjavur on Sunday. The incident occurred when the occupants of the car were returning from Tiruchendur.

When the vehicle reached Pattukottai ring road at Keezhavastha Chavadi in the district, the driver lost control and hit a stationary lorry. While four occupants of the car were killed on the spot, another died on the way to hospital. Two persons who sustained injuries were admitted at the government hospital in Thanjavur.