Nine killed as Kerala tourists’ van crashes on Valparai ghat road

A tourist van carrying teachers from Kerala’s Malappuram district met with a fatal accident on the Pollachi–Valparai ghat road in Tamil Nadu, killing nine people and injuring several others after the vehicle lost control at a hairpin bend

Malappuram/Pollachi: A group of holidaymakers from Kerala’s Malappuram district met with an ill-fated accident in Tamil Nadu’s Valparai on Friday, leaving nine people dead and several others injured. The victims were part of a team of teachers and others from Perinthalmanna who were on a leisure trip.​

According to preliminary reports, the mini traveller van they were travelling in was involved in an accident at the 13th hairpin bend on the Pollachi–Valparai ghat road.​

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The vehicle, which had come from the Thrissur side, is said to have lost control and crashed into the guard rail before plunging down towards the 8th hairpin bend. The impact left the vehicle completely mangled.​

There were 12 teachers and a driver in the van, including staff and family members associated with the GLP School at Pang in Malappuram. The injured were rushed to a government hospital in Pollachi, where some are reported to be in critical condition.​

A team of relatives and friends of the victims has already set out for Coimbatore, where the injured and the bodies of those who died are being transported.​ The Pollachi–Valparai stretch is known for its steep terrain and more than 40 sharp hairpin bends, making it a challenging route for drivers, particularly unfamiliar with the ghat roads.​

The accident, which occurred around Friday evening, has sent shockwaves across Kerala, especially in Malappuram district.​ Kerala State Police Chief Revada Chandrasekhar said he is in constant touch with his counterpart in Tamil Nadu.​

He assured that all possible assistance is being extended to the victims and their families, and that authorities are coordinating efforts to ensure timely medical care and further support.​ Further details are awaited as rescue and investigation efforts continue.​