One killed, six hurt as ambulance rolls off ghat road

One person was killed and six others sustained injuries when a van rolled off the ghat road and fell into a 500 ft deep gorge near Burliyar on the Mettupalayam – Coonoor Road on Friday.

According to police, Domi (35), a priest in a church at Arya Parambu in Peravur in Kannur district of Kerala, was on his way to Coimbatore in an ambulance. He was accompanied by six others namely Bindo (23), Dileep (32), Sanal (24), Benny (44), Pravin (27) and Jose (30).

The group reportedly took the Gudalur, Udhagamandalam, Mettupalayam route to reach Coimbatore.

When the van approached Burliyar, the driver is said to have lost control and fell into a 500-ft roadside gorge and got struck at 200-ft depth.

Following information, Police and Fire and Rescue Services personnel from Mettupalayam rushed to the spot and rescued all the seven. They were rushed to Mettupalayam Government Hospital where the priest was declared dead.

The others were given first aid taken to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital. Investigations are on.