ALAPPUZHA: The case of a missing woman was all set to end on a happy note before tragedy struck, resulting in three deaths. Three persons, including the missing woman and a civil police officer, were killed when their car rammed a lorry on NH 66 in Karoor near Ambalappuzha on Friday.
The deceased have been identified as Haseena, 30, of Cherikonam, Kollam; civil police officer Sreekala, 44, of Nedumana; and car driver Nouphal, 28, of Kottayam. Another civil police officer, Nizar, 42, sustained serious injuries and is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Ernakulam.
Ambalappuzha CI Biju V Nair said the incident occurred around 5 am when the police team was bringing Haseena, who had gone missing, back to Kottayam police station. “She had been missing since June 6. The Angamaly police located her and handed her over to the police team from Kottayam. They were returning in a private car when tragedy struck. Sreekala and Hasseena died on the spot, while Nouphal was rushed to the Alappuzha Medical College Hospital, but his life could not be saved,” he said.
Haseena had gone missing from her house on June 6. Her husband registered a complaint on June 7 and the cops had launched an investigation. The police located her in Angamaly and informed the Kottayam police, who sent a team to bring back her.
Traffic on the NH was disrupted for more than one hour due to the accident. The drowsiness of the car driver could be the reason for the accident, police officers suspect. The lorry driver has been taken into custody.
The bodies of the victims were laid to rest on Friday. Sreekala was laid to rest at ‘Sreedharam’ in Nedumpana. Scores of people, including Education Minister C Raveendranath, Kollam MP N K Premachandran, Mayor V Rajendrababu and police officers, came to pay homage. The body of Haseena was received by her relatives. The body of Nouphal was buried at Puthenvila Masjid in Kottayam.