Seven tourists from Karnataka were killed and five others injured in a road accident near Krishnagiri early on Monday.
Three families from Kodialli in Karnataka were returning home after visiting Melmaruvathur Temple, Velankanni Church and some other temples when their van rammed a trailer truck from behind on a flyover on the Salem-Krishnagiri National Highway at Pothapuram near Kaveripattinam.
The dead were identified as Jairam Reddy (46), his son J. Prithvi (17), N. Bakkiyalakshmi (45), her son N. Arun Kumar (24), R. Suguna (51), R. Sudharani (28) and van driver M. Prakash 37. The condition of J. Gayatri (42), wife of Jairam Reddy, and M. Gouramma (48) was stated to be critical.
Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi announced Rs.1 lakh to the next of kin of the dead.
