3 students dead as drunk driver rams car into them

Trichy: Three students of a govt school were killed after a drunk driver crashed his car into them as they were walking home near Mannargudi in Tiruvarur district on Thursday evening. Chief minister C Joseph Vijay announced a compensation of Rs 3 lakh each to the families of the deceased, and Rs. 50,000 to an injured boy.

The victims were identified as Class VI students M Yogeswaran and M Rakshith, and Class VII student R Rajamurali, all aged around 12. The incident took place around 4.40pm near Government Higher Secondary School on Karakottai Main Road.

Police said the speeding car struck the three as well as another student named Hrithik, 11, and overturned. Local residents rushed to the spot and took the injured students to Mannargudi Government Hospital. However, Yogeswaran, Rakshith, and Rajamurali were declared dead on arrival. Hrithik suffered minor injuries and is undergoing treatment.

Police said the driver, K Ulaganathan, 51, was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. He was arrested by Vaduvur police and is being interrogated. Expressing grief at the incident, chief minister C Joseph Vijay directed authorities to provide special medical care for the injured child, and announced financial assistance from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund.