RAMANATHAPURAM

Three persons were killed and six suffered injuries when the van in which they were travelling collided with a lorry at Pirappanvalasai near Uchipuli on Tuesday.

The victims and four others hailing from Ananthapuram, Ilanji and Aaikudi near Tenkasi were returning home after offering worship at Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram when the van collided with the lorry after the lorry driver lost control of the vehicle.

The victims were identified as E. Kutti, 27, his brother E. Magaraja, 25, of Ananthapuram, and G. Kanagaraj, 45.

Those who travelled in the van and suffered injuries were identified as B. Suresh, 20, T. Arumugaraj, 30, K. Isaki Raja, 42, and M. Suresh, 27. Govindaraj, 27, and Anandaraj, 31, who travelled in the lorry were also injured.

While Suresh and Kanagaraj were shifted to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai after first aid, others were admitted to the Government Hospital here, the police said. Late in the evening, Kanagaraj died at the Madurai hospital.

Lorry driver Madavan, who escaped with minor injuries, was arrested.

The impact was huge that the van was reduced to a mangle and the brick-laden lorry turned upside down. Traffic on Ramanthapuram – Rameswaram national highway was held up following the accident.