A nature study camp turned sour for 38 students and their four teachers after the van they were travelling in met with an accident at Neyyar Dam on Sunday.
Of the 42 injured, five were admitted to the Medical College Hospital here, while the others were rushed to a private hospital at Kattakkada.
The students and teachers, from Government Higher Secondary School, Elamakkara, in Ernakulam, were on their way back to camp after the day’s studies.
‘No Serious Injuries’
Officials at the Medical College Hospital identified the injured as Mijuna, 17, Amritha, 40, Sreeja, 17, Keerthi, 17, and Yadu, 17. Their injuries are not serious, hospital officials said.
The accident occurred at a sharp bend on the road near the Sivananda Ashram.
According to one account, the van had lost control and slid backwards into a ditch.
According to the police, the van had fallen into a ditch, but came to a stop after hitting a wall.
This averted a major tragedy as the van would have fallen into a 40-foot drop otherwise. The school team had arrived at Marakkunnam, which falls under the Neyyar Dam Forest Section, on Saturday. The 24 boys, 14 girls and four teachers were on their way back to camp on Sunday evening when the mishap occurred.
The local people joined Forest officials at the Neyyar Dam Range Office and the police in the rescue operations.