Kozhikode: A local Congress leader died and eight others sustained injuries when a car and a private bus collided on the National Highway at Nallalam on Sunday noon.

The deceased is Ummer Ashraf Pandikasala (61), a resident of Ramanattukara. He was driving the car with his daughter-in-law, Amina Rena, who was also injured.

Five students travelling on the private bus, along with the bus driver and conductor, were among those injured. All of them were taken to a nearby hospital.

The accident occurred at Sarada Mandiram near Southern Gas when Ashraf’s car collided with the city bus Jas Mon. Ashraf was trapped between the steering wheel and the driver’s seat. A Fire and Rescue Services team, led by Assistant Station Officer N Ganeshan, extricated him using a hydraulic cutter. He was rushed to the Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital but was declared dead on arrival, according to the Meenchanda fire station.

The car was heading towards Kozhikode city, while the bus was travelling towards Feroke. Nallalam police have registered a case against the bus driver under Sections 281 and 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Ashraf served as the Congress Block Committee Vice-President and the Pravasi Congress Block President. He was the son of the late Pandikasala Kunhamu and Khadeeja, and is survived by his wife, Sereena, children Ashfak Ummer and Afna Ummer, and siblings Saleem Pandikasala, Aslam and Jameela.