PUDUKKOTTAI: Ten
Sabarimala pilgrims from Telangana died and five others suffered injuries when a trailer truck rammed a van they were travelling in near
Thirumayam in Pudukkottai district of
Tamil Nadu on Sunday afternoon.
Nine of the deceased have been identified as R Nagaraj, 35, A Mahesh, 28, M Kumar, 22, Sham, 22, S Pravin, 24, Krishna, 35, M Saai, 22, Aanjaneyalu, Suresh, 25, all hailing from Methak district of Telangana.
The driver of the van, who also died, was yet to be identified.
The injured were identified as K Poomakavud, 28, D Raju, 28, S Venkatesh, 35, N Sailamal and Naresh. The accident happened around 2.35pm.
After worshipping at the
Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala, the fifteen pilgrims visited Rameswaram. The accident happened when they were returning from Rameswaram.
Police said the driver of the trailer truck had driven the vehicle in a rash and negligent manner. The truck hit the van.
(TOI photo by R Baskar)The Thirumayam police rushed to the spot and recovered the bodies. The injured were rushed to Thirumayam Government Hospital.