KOCHI: A tempo-van driver was killed and 18 women passengers in the vehicle were injured after it collided with a timber-loaded lorry at Nayathodu Junction near Angamaly on the MC Road stretch.
The accident took place at around 2.10 am on Friday. Police suspect that the lorry driver dozed off and lost control of the vehicle.
The deceased is identified as Abdul Majeed, (53) of Thachkodu in Palakkad.
The injured women are identified as M Sandhya (35), Anitha (34), Rajitha (42), Dhanya Priya (38), Mini Udayan (30), C Sajida (34), Usha (45), Reena (39), M Sajida (38), Rajitha (38), Geetha (35), Sameesha (41), Sarada (48), Sandhya (39), Jalaja (45), Jayanthi (35), Sindhu (35) and Viju (42).
All 19 persons inside the vehicle were rescued and rushed to a private hospital in Angamaly, however driver Majeed succumbed to injuries.
The condition of the two women is critical and are at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
It took over 30 minutes to rescue the driver and passenger from the van. The accident led to a severe traffic block on the MC Road stretch from Angamaly to Kalady. After 1.5 hours, both vehicles were moved from the site to resume traffic.
Meanwhile, residents claimed that accidents are frequent in the stretch due to unscientific road construction.
"The accident took place on a major curve. Due to unscientific construction, the vehicles coming from Angamaly on the way to Perumbavoor often cut into to right side of the road leading to collisions with vehicles coming from the opposite side," Joseph Ittiyarah, a local resident said.
"Every week, there are minor and major accidents reported at the road stretch. The authorities should take initive to level the curve to prevent accidents," he added.
Angamaly police has registered a case against the lorry driver and further probe is on,