Thiruvalla: Two people lost their lives as a KSRTC bus rammed their scooter before crashing into a shop at Perumthuruthy, midway between Changanacherry and Thiruvalla towns. The part of MC Road passing through here on the borders of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts is notorious for frequent accidents for decades.
The dead in Friday's accident were James Chacko, 30, a native of Mulakuzha, and Ancy, 26, daughter of Venmani native Johnson. The duo met with the accident as they were returning from Ettumanoor, where Ancy had attended an interview.
Relatives said that both the families had agreed on conducting their wedding.
22 injured
The Pathanamthitta-bound bus from the KSRTC depot at Kottayam met with the accident around 4.10pm on Friday. In all 22 people were also injured in the accident, but 18 of them were discharged soon after receiving first-aid at the Thiruvalla Taluk Hospital.
Two people were admitted to the Kottayam Medical College Hospital, while two were admitted to a private medical college at Thiruvalla.
The bus had 35 passengers.
Lucky escape for two
The accident occurred as the driver of the fast-passenger bus lost control over it. It first knocked down the scooter, and then crashed into an optical shop before coming to a halt.
Luckily, two employees at the shop were unhurt. The shop was about 5 metre away from the road.
The front portion of the shop and the bus were fully damaged in the accident.
As the scooter got stuck to the front wheel of the bus it was dragged for around 15 m along with riders James and Ancy.
A car and two scooters, parked near the shop, were also hit by the bus.
James was the driver of a bus belonging to the St Gregorios School at Mulakuzha. He is survived by mother Kunjumol and sister Bindu. His father Raju had passed away earlier. Leelamma is Ancy's mother, while Akhil is her brother.
Driver swoons
The driver collapsed as soon as he lost control of the vehicle, according to witnesses.
The bus had gone to Kumily from Kottayam by 7:45am on Friday and returned to Kottayam by 2:50pm. The bus immediately left for its service to Pathanamthitta. There were fewer passengers in its front seats.
Danger spot
The stretch of the MC Road between Thiruvalla and Changanassery has been a danger spot for decades.
Motorists are mainly wary of Perumthuruthy and Idinjillam areas.
About three accidents are being reported on an average in a week in this region after the road was upgraded. The main problem is the speeding of vehicles. Most of the accidents were caused by KSRTC buses, while most fatal victims were riders of two-wheelers.
Apart from callous driving, the lack of any system to control the speeding of vehicles has also to be blamed for the frequent accidents.
Adding to concern, the road is constricted at Idinjillam.
