Two persons were killed and five injured when a private bus rammed a tea shop at Karimugal junction early in the morning on Friday. People were waiting for the shop to open in the morning when the bus came rushing onto them. The two died on the spot.
Tripunithura traffic station has registered a case of rash driving causing death under section 304 IPC, which is a non-bailable offence. The search is on for the absconding driver, said Jayakumar T. R., the circle inspector investigating the case.
The deceased are Kunjumon, 58, of Vettamalakudy Colony, Karimugal, and V. Marisami, 50, of VOC district, Tamil Nadu. Those injured are Thankappan, of Puttumanoor, near Karimugal; Rajan, Nettikattukuzhi House, Karimugal; A. N. Mani, Attuthuduyal House, Muvattupuzha; Pylee, Mundakkal House, Karimugal and V.S. Ali, Kalapurakkal House, Karimugal.
All are seriously injured.
According to Mr. Jayakumar, the bus with the registration number KL 40, 4242 was to start its trip on the Tripunithura-Irimpanam-Kakkanad route at 6.18 a.m. but was late as the accident had happened at 6.33 a.m. The driver of the speeding bus coming from Peringala on a steep slope at the Karimugal junction may have lost control of the vehicle at a turning in front of the closed tea shop.
The shop was completely destroyed. Ajitha Kumari, a local resident, said, “We did not immediately know who all were involved in the accident. But we found that there were more local people than the migrant workers, who usually visit the shop for tea.
T. Soman, who works as a casual labourer, said that it was gruesome scene at the site.
The bus was removed by about 8 a.m. after the Karimugal police took the victims to the hospital.
