KSRTC bus falls into gorge in Kerala's Palakkad, one dies, several injured

A woman died and several passengers suffered injuries after a KSRTC bus veered off the road and fell into a gorge at Pothundy near Nenmara here on Monday, August 3, police said.

The deceased was identified as Jayanthi (53) of Nelliyampathy.

The accident occurred around 9.30 a.m. when the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus was on the way from Nelliyampathy to Nenmara.

Police said the bus fell into the gorge and got lodged between trees at a teak plantation near Pothundy checkpost, preventing it from plunging further.

Police said that Jayanthi, who was seated at the front portion of the bus, was thrown out in the impact and was jammed between the tree and the vehicle.

There were 72 passengers in the bus and most of them sustained injuries, with the condition of two reported to be serious.

Fire and Rescue Services personnel and police rushed to the spot and brought out all the passengers from the bus.

The injured have been shifted to the Nelliyampathy hospital for treatment.

According to KSRTC officials, the accident was suspected to have been caused by brake failure.

Nenmara police registered a case against the bus driver in the death of Jayanthi and started an investigation.

The body will be handed over to relatives after postmortem, police added.