Four of a family, including two children, were killed when a car in which they were travelling plunged into a river at Pazhayarikandam, near Cheuthoni in Idukki district, on Thursday night.
The police identified the victims as Mlakkuzhiyil Biju Michael, 41, his wife Bindu, 38, son Anjo, 12, and daughter Alpha, 10,. residents of Thodupuzha Muttom.
The Kanjikuzhy police said the local people knew about the accident only in the morning. They said the vehicle fell into Vattambara thodu between 9.30 and 10 p.m.
The area where the accident occurred is sparsely populated and since it was raining, the people may not have heard the sound.
The accident was first noticed by workers who passed by the area at 7 a.m. They informed the police who rushed to the spot and engaged in rescue operations with the help of the local people. All four were found dead and the car was lifted using a crane. The police said the vehicle crashed into a culvert before falling into the river. A post-mortem examination was held at the District Hospital in Cheruthoni and the bodies were handed over to the relatives.
The post-mortem report said the victims had died of suffocation. The accident occurred when Michael, along with his family, was going to his wife’s house at Charalanganathu near Murickassery.
Anjo was a Class 4 student and Alpha Class 1 at a school in Muttom.
