Coimbatore: A tragic road accident in Tamil Nadu’s hill region has claimed the lives of nine Keralites after a mini van plunged off a hairpin bend in the Valparai Ghat Road near Coimbatore, leaving several others injured.
The accident occurred on Friday evening as the group was returning from Valparai to Pollachi. The victims were part of a teachers’ group from Malappuram district in Kerala, travelling back after a leisure trip. The vehicle reportedly lost control at the 13th hairpin bend, crashed into a safety barrier and fell near the 11th hairpin.
Among the deceased are seven women and a child. The group included teachers and staff of a lower primary school near Valanchery in Malappuram. In total, 16 people were travelling in the van at the time of the accident, which was being driven by a 21-year-old from Perinthalmanna.
Four others sustained injuries and were rushed to hospitals in Pollachi, with two reported to be in critical condition. The injured are currently undergoing treatment at a government hospital, while the bodies of the deceased have been shifted for post-mortem examinations.
The Valparai ghat stretch, known for its 40 sharp hairpin bends and dense forest surroundings, is considered one of the most challenging routes in the region. The group had travelled to Valparai via the Chalakudy–Athirappilly–Malakkappara route before the fatal return journey.