TIRUCHY: In yet another accident throwing light upon the risky gamble of using load vans for commuting in rural side, as many as 11 persons including nine women were killed in a major road mishap near Jayankondam in Ariyalur district on Sunday night. Nine other injured villagers are being treated at the Jayankondam government hospital who are said to be critical.
According to eyewitness, a load van carrying as many as 21 villagers was returning from Pudhukudi village near Jayankondam after attending a death ritual of a 35-year-old man who recently died in wall collapse. As the load van returning from Pudhukudi was nearing Katchiperumal village where most of the victims belonged to, a cement laden lorry approaching from opposite direction and heading to Jayankondam collided with the vehicle at about 8.40 pm. In the sudden impact, as many as 21 villagers who were on board were thrown out of the vehicle in which at least five women were killed on the spot.
On hearing the collision, though Katchiperumal villagers rushed to the spot and rescued the victims battling for life and moved them to Jayankondam Governmen Hospital, unfortunately six more injured victims succumbed to injuries at the GH on Sunday night. The deceased victims include nine women, five identified as Rajakumari (55), Muniyammal (60), Kamatchi (45), Chitra (30, and Saraswati (50), and a couple, Manikandan (25) and Maruthupandi (32). Revenue department officials at the accident told Express that nine more injured victims are being treated at Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Jayankondam GH. Udayarpalayam police are investigating the accident.
It may be recalled that in a similar incident last year involving a load van and cement lorry as many as 10 persons were killed. Since the accidents are recurring, Jayankondam locals sought district administration to act tough on rash driving cement laden lorries, and also overloaded load vans being used for villagers to travel.
Expressing deep grief over the death of 14 persons in a road accident that took place at Kachiperumal in Ariyalur district on Sunday, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday granted a solatium of Rs.One lakh each to the families of those killed in the mishap. She also granted Rs.50,000 to 11 persons who had suffered serious injuries. Those who suffered minor injuries would get an assistance of Rs.25,000.
In a statement here, the Chief Minister said she had directed the Thanjavur district administration to provide best possible treatment to all those who had been admitted to the hospital. She also wished them a speedy recovery.