KERALA: Two schoolchildren were crushed to death and ten others injured when a fully-loaded truck ran over them at Manimooly near Vazhikkadavu in Malappuram district on Tuesday morning.

The children were waiting for their school vehicle on a footpath when the truck ran over them around 9.15 a.m.

The children were so badly crushed under the wheels that identifying them took some time. Local people identified the victims as Fida and Mohammed Shameel. Both were students of CKHS, Manimooly.

The injured were admitted to different hospitals at Nilambur, Manjeri and Perinthalmanna.

The 18-wheel copra-laden truck coming from Mysore reportedly lost control and hit an autorickshaw, a bus and a motorcycle before running over the schoolchildren. Police said the truck driver was suspected to have dozed off.

Local people began rescue operations within minutes after the accident. They pulled out the two victims from under the wheels by lifting the truck with the help of a rope.

P.V. Abdul Wahab, MP, and P.V. Anvar, MLA, were among those who visited the injured in hospital.

The Hindu