COIMBATORE: Seven tourists are believed to have died after their mini bus fell off the road to a depth of 50 feet near Keelsattapallam, Kothagiri, in the Nilgiris on Friday night. The police had recovered three bodies at the time of filing this report. A number of people were also injured.
The dead were among some 25 people from Vellore who had gone to the Nilgiris on summer vacation tour and were returning to their native place by the Kothagiri route. When the bus was near Keelsattapallam, the driver lost control and it fell of the road to a depth of 50 feet.
Though police confirmed that seven person were dead, they were not able to identify all the persons. Among them are Shankar, Mallika and Palanisamy of Vellore. Police said they had recovered the bodes of Shankar and Mallika. The third person, Palanisamy, has been found dead in the gorge in which the bus fell.
Recovery operations are under way. Nilgiris SP Murali Rambha visited the spot. The police have rescued nearly 10 people from the gorge.