Couple killed as car falls into rivulet

A couple was killed when the car they were travelling in fell into a tributary of the Meenachil at Aarupara on Kottayam-Kumarakom road.

The deceased have been identified as Abraham Varghese (61) and his wife Eliamma (57) of Chengalathukattil House, South Chengalam.

The police said the couple was going to Kottayam for a medical examination when the accident occurred. While some of the eye witnesses said the car skidded off the road while trying to give side to another vehicle coming in the opposite direction, the police said they had been informed that the car skidded into the Arupuzhathode when the driver lost control of the vehicle.

While local people and construction workers in the area rushed to save the people, they could not do much due to the heavy undercurrents.

'The car was hoisted from the waters using a crane after more than 30 minutes.

Though the victims were rushed to the Government Medical College here, they could not be saved.

The couple have two children, both NRIs. The body has been kept at the medical college hospital mortuary.

Meanwhile, CPI(M) activists resorted to a sit in alleging that the accident could have been averted if their long-standing demand for placing crash barriers on the riverside was implemented.

The sit in was recalled after District Collector U.V. Jose and CPI(M) district secretary V.N. Vasavan intervened.