One killed, 54 injured as tanker rams city bus

KOCHI: One person was killed and 54 were injured as a tanker lorry carrying drinking water rammed a private bus at Pathadipalam near Edappally Toll here during the morning peak traffic hours on Tuesday.

The accident occurred around 9.15 a.m. The tanker lorry, coming from the Aluva side, apparently went out of control in the drizzle and jumped over the median before hitting the side of the bus going in the opposite direction, forcing the bus to fall on its side. The bus, operating between Ernakulam and Pokkattupadi, had 54 passengers on board.

Jayaprakash, 45, of Nettipadam, Ernakulam South, who was an engineer with the Kerala State Electricity Board, got stuck under the bus and died on the spot. His body was removed after those who gathered on the spot immediately after the accident lifted the bus.

Out of the 31 persons admitted to MAJ Hospital, two continue in hospital, while the rest have been discharged; out of the 10 admitted to the Ernakulam Medical Centre, seven were discharged and two remained in hospital and out of the 13 admitted to the Cooperative Medical College, Kalamassery, one remained in hospital while the rest were discharged.