Date:28/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/28/stories/2008032857840100.htm

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Seven killed as lorry runs into rally

Kochi Bureau

30 admitted to hospitals in Kothamangalam, eight of them in serious condition

Gory accident: The lorry that ran into a Congress rally near Kothamangalam on Thursday.

KOCHI: Seven persons were killed when a lorry lost control and ran into a Congress rally at Pothanikad, near here, on Thursday. Thirty persons were admitted with injuries to various hospitals in Kothamangalam, eight of them in a serious condition.

The accident occurred at 5.30 p.m. near the Pothanikadu panchayat office when the Pothanikadu mandalam committee of the Congress was preparing to take out a rally to mark the mandalam convention.

Those dead were identified as Surendran of Thengumpally; Iype of Kakkathodu Veedu; V.P. Pathrose of Vandanam; Easo Joseph of Punnakkompil; Kuttan of Mattathil Veedu; and Pratheesh Kuriakose of Aiyenedath House. The lorry, which came from the Chathamattom side, ran over the activists and stopped after crashing into a shop nearby, said P.M. Mathew, block Congress president, who was present on the spot. The lorry driver was roughed up by Congress activists before being handed over to the police. Chaos prevailed, as those present could not initially make out what happened after the lorry ran into the crowd. This vehicle regularly plied the route, carrying sand. The place where the accident occurred was congested, as hundreds of activists had gathered on the spot.

Eyewitness accounts said they suspected something wrong on seeing the lorry speeding down the steep road, but the accident occurred before they could react. They added that the magnitude of the tragedy dawned on them only after finding bodies strewn around and under the lorry that had by then crashed into the shop.

A huge crowd gathered at the Mar Baselios Medical Mission Hospital and the St. Joseph’s Hospital, Kothamangalam, and the Kolencherry Medical Mission Hospital where the injured were admitted. For a while, confusion prevailed regarding the casualties.

Collector A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish said the situation had been brought under control. The Chief Minister had sought a detailed report on the incident and the Muvattupuzha Regional Transport Officer has been directed to inspect and report on the mechanical condition of the vehicle.