Six students killed as car rams into tanker in Kollam

Kollam: Six Engineering students were killed when the car they were travelling in rammed into a tanker lorry at Sheemati junction, near JSM hospital at Chanthannur here around 2.15 am on Thursday.

The third year students of TKM Kollam Engineering College were returning from the Varkala beach after attending the New Year bash.

The deceased have been identified as Arun K Sabu (20) of Thrikkariyur, Sijo George John (20) of Kozhencherry in Pathanamthitta, Syed Insamam Thangal (20) of Karikode in Kollam, Aju Prakash (20) Kilikollur in Kollam, Nikson of Thirumullavaram in Kollam, and Adil Shah of Thiruvananthapuram.

According to the police, the gas-tanker was going to IOC plant, Parippally in Kollam from Kochi while the car was on its way to Kollam from Thiruvananthapuram. As per the report, the car lost control while overtaking another vehicle and rammed into the tanker.

"The car was at high speed and it rammed into my lorry. The bodies were taken out with great difficulty. All of them died on the spot," the driver told the media.