Four members of a family lost their lives in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district in a road accident on Sunday, December 15. The accident took place at around 4.15 AM on the Punalur-Muvattupuzha state highway when a car collided with a bus carrying Sabarimala pilgrims near Murinjakkal in Konni.
The deceased have been identified as Nikhil, his wife Anu, Anu's father Biju P George, and Nikhil's father Mathai Eapen, all residents of Mallassery in Vattakulam. Nikhil and Anu had recently married and were returning from Malaysia. Biju and Mathai had gone to the airport to receive them. The accident took place just 7 kilometers from their home while they were on their way back.
The bus was carrying pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh. The couple had traveled to Malaysia for their honeymoon. According to the police, the accident was caused by an error on the part of the car driver.
Konni DySP T Rajappan stated, “Their wedding took place on November 28, and they were returning from their honeymoon. They were on their way back from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. As per our investigation, the accident occurred due to a mistake by the car driver.” Three of the victims died on the spot, while Anu succumbed to injuries after reaching Muthoot hospital.
In another incident on December 12, a couple and their two-month-old grandson from Pathanamthitta died in a road accident in Coimbatore. Jacob Abraham (60), his wife Sheeba Jacob, and their grandchild Aaron Jacob, residents of Eraviperoor, were on their way to Bangalore when the tragedy occurred.