KOTTAYAM: At least 15 Sabarimala pilgrims from Karnataka were injured when the bus they were travelling overturned at Kanamala near Erumeli in the wee hours of Wednesday. According to police, the accident occurred at Attivalav near Kanamala around 6 AM.
The bus, carrying 40 passengers and three crew members, was from Kolar in Karnataka and on its way to Sabarimala for darshan. The driver of the vehicle lost control over the wheel while negotiating a curve.
The officials at the District Emergency Operation Centre (DEOC) said nine pilgrims have sustained serious injuries and they were admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Kottayam. Nine others were admitted to the Government General Hospital at Kanjirappally, while the remaining pilgrims were provided medical care at a private hospital in Erumely.
Erumely police and Fire and Rescue personnel from Kanjirappally led the rescue operations with the help of local residents. The accident caused a huge traffic snarl along the Erumely – Sabarimala road. As it was the opening day of the Sabarimala shrine for monthly poojas, there was heavy traffic on the Sabarimala route.