RAMANATHAPURAM
A fruit vendor, V. Andisamy (45), was killed and 16 people, including women and children, who were on a pilgrimage to Rameswaram, were injured when the van in which the pilgrims were travelling rammed a stationary lorry at Mavilangai near Chathirakudi in the early hours of Wednesday.
Police said the vegetables and fruits-laden lorry coming from Madurai broke down at Mavilangai. The driver of the lorry and three others, including Andisamy, were checking the fault standing in front of the vehicle, when the van, carrying the pilgrims from Sulur in Coimbatore, rammed it.
In the impact, the lorry moved violently ahead, crushing Andisamy to death. The others managed to escape. Sixteen of the 24 occupants of the van, including three children, suffered injuries, the police said.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) T. Inbamani, who was passing through the village while returning here after inspecting bandobust arrangements at Parthibanur, called an ambulance and arranged for the rescue and hospitalisation of the injured.
While 10 people, including the children, were treated as outpatients, the others were admitted to Ramanathapuram Government Headquarters Hospital.
The police accommodated the pilgrims at a church in front of the hospital and provided them breakfast.