Three persons were killed and three others were injured when a speeding van knocked down a group of pilgrims who were on a ‘padayatra’ to Palani on the Tiruchi–Dindigul national highway at Dheerampatti near Manapparai in the wee hours on Saturday.
The deceased were identified as P. Karuppiah (40), V. Sundarajan (45) and S. Vallikannu (40). Police sources said a group of pilgrims from various villages in Ilupur area in Pudukottai district were on a ‘padayatra’ when the driver of the Munnar-bound van from Chennai lost control and the vehicle knocked down the pilgrims who were walking on the road-side. While two of them died on the spot, the other succumbed at the hospital. The van driver and other occupants of the vehicle escaped from the scene. The vehicle has been seized. The Manapparai Police have registered a case.
