Ten persons were killed in a head-on collision on the Theni-Dindigul highway at Veerachikkampatti near Batlagundu in the district early on Friday.
The victims were travelling in a car that collided with a milk lorry. While nine persons died on the spot, one succumbed to injuries at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai.
The deceased were identified as Imam P. Thamimul Ansari (25) and B. Syed Ibrahim (25) of Pallapatti; A. Abu Sali of Pollachi (27), S. Abdul Rahman (33) of Sukkankudi — all teachers of the Arabic College in Aravakurichi; M. Valiullah Haq (25) of Pallapatti, a teacher in Arabic College, Kumbakonam; his brother Imam Bazurullah Haq (32); Abdul Rahim (40) of Vedasandur, a teaching staff member in Arabic College, Cuddalore; A. Aliba (20), student of Arabic College, Aravakurichi, and the car driver Mohan (42) of Kumarandavalasu.
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A grievously injured M. Khalil Rahman (46) of Thiruvengadam in Salem was referred to Madurai GRH where he died in the evening.
After post-mortem, the bodies were handed over to their relatives.
Police said the religious heads and teaching staff were returning to Aravakurichi after a prayer at a new guest house in Kodaikanal owned by a Chennai-based industrialist as part of house warming ceremony.
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They left Kodaikanal after midnight.
In the impact of the collision, the mangled car and the lorry fell into a gorge. The lorry driver fled the scene. A large quantity of milk spilled over and flowed in the nearby storm water canal.
Last month, a van overturned at this spot, causing injuries to many persons.