Two Ayyappa Devotees among three killed

Virudhunagar, Dec 24 (UNI) Three people, including two Ayyappa devotees, were killed and 25 others injured in two separate road accidents in Virudhunagar district today.

Police sources said the two Ayyappa devotees were crushed to death on the spot and three others seriously injured, when a car in which they were travelling collided with a van carrying a group of Ayyappa devotees at Kalakurichi village near Kariyapatti, here.

The deceased were identified as Ayyappa Kumar (24) and Durairaj (50), both hailing from Madurai.

Twelve Ayyappa devottees travelling in the van were also injured.

The injured were rescued by the police with the help of locals and admitted to government hospital.

The occupants of the car were returning to their native place after a pilgrimage to Sabarimala, while the occupants of the van were going to Sabarimala, when the mishap occurred, police said.

In an another mishap, a 55-year-old woman was killed and nine others were injured when a State Transport Corporation bus in which they were travelling rammed into a salt-laden lorry at Aviyur, near Kariyappatti today.

The bus was proceeding to Tuticorin from Madurai, while the lorry was coming in the opposite direction when the mishap occurred, police said.

UNI