50 injured as bus falls into pond

PARASSALA: Nearly 50 people were injured when a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus plunged into a pond at Puthukulam, 2 km from Kottamom, near here, and 40 km from the city, at 9.40 a.m. on Monday. The ordinary bus was on its way to the city from Kaliyikkavila.

Two of the injured, whose names were given as Siby and Indira, are said to be in a serious condition. Seventeen persons are under treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital here, 16 at the Government Hospital, Parassala, and four at the Government Taluk Hospital, Neyyattinkara. Others have been admitted to private hospitals.

The injured include the bus driver, Sajeev, and conductor, Syamdas. The bus belongs to the Parassala depot of the corporation.

Initial reports suggest brake failure has caused the accident, D. Vijayan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Neyyattinkara, said. The driver said the bus had lost its brakes at the previous stop. An examination of the vehicle will reveal if it was so.