Three school boys killed in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvarur district as drunk driver crashes 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. Locals 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 under treatment.Police said the driver, K Ulaganathan, 51, was drunk at the time of the accident. He was arrested by the Vaduvur police and is being interrogated. Expressing grief at the incident, Vijay directed authorities to provide special medical care for the injured child and announced financial assistance from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund.