PALAKKAD: Four girl students, all 13-year-olds and close friends, were killed after a truck overturned on them at Panayambadam near Kalladikode here on Thursday evening. The deceased are Irfana Sherin, Ritha Fathima, Nitha Fathima, and Ayisha AS, natives of nearby Cherully and Class VIII students of Govt Higher Secondary School, Karimba.
Police said the accident occurred on the Kozhikode-Palakkad highway around 4 pm. "The cement-laden truck, travelling towards Mannarkkad, lost control while trying to avoid collision with another vehicle coming from the opposite direction. It toppled and crashed onto a group of students who were walking home after attending an examination. While four students were trapped beneath the vehicle, one managed to escape unharmed. Despite swift action by rescue workers who lifted the truck and rushed students to a nearby hospital, all four were declared dead upon arrival," a police officer said.
CM: Detailed probe will be conductedAccording to Kongad MLA Santhakumari, who visited the spot immediately after the accident, the truck had hit the other vehicle before moving towards the students.
“The rescue operation proved challenging, as a crane and an earthmover had to be used to extract students from underneath the vehicle. Scores of residents assisted in the rescue efforts by removing the cement bags from the truck. Three students were quickly retrieved, but it took considerable effort to take out the remaining student,” she said.
Police have taken the driver and cleaner of the truck into custody. The bodies have been shifted to Palakkad district hospital and they will be handed over to relatives after autopsy. Police officers who inspected the site said they would check CCTV visuals to ascertain the reason for the accident. They said the vehicle was found in good condition.
Meanwhile, the accident triggered a public protest in the area, with residents blocking the highway for more than an hour demanding steps to prevent frequent accidents on the stretch. The protest ended only after Power minister V Krishnankutty, who visited the spot, assured them that he would convene a meeting with the district collector on Friday to discuss measures needed.
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in his condolence message that a detailed investigation would be conducted into the accident and necessary action would be taken. Transport minister KB Ganesh Kumar said the transport commissioner would conduct a detailed probe.
“A comprehensive investigation is essential to determine the exact cause of the accident. Various factors — including wet road conditions, driving under the influence of alcohol or reckless driving — could have contributed to it,” he said.
General education minister V Sivankutty has also sought a detailed report on the accident from the district collector. Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil also visited the accident spot.
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