Pathanamthitta: Four Sabarimala pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh were injured after a tourist bus overturned at Vadasserikkara in Pathanamthitta district in the early hours of Tuesday. The injured were admitted to the Government Taluk Hospital in Ranni. Leg of a pilgrim was cut off after it got trapped under the bus.

Sources close to the hospital revealed that none are in critical condition.

According to reports, the bus fell on the man’s leg after he was thrown out of the vehicle moments before it overturned. A total of 49 pilgrims were travelling in the bus. The accident reportedly occurred around 2 am while the vehicle was negotiating a curve.

Passengers who had a narrow escape without injuries were shifted to an 'Edathavalam'.

This is the fourth bus accident reported on the Vadasserikkara–Pampa road during the current Mandala season.

Meanwhile, in a separate accident reported on Monday at Nilamel in Kollam district, two people lost their lives when a vehicle carrying Sabarimala pilgrims met with a tragic accident. The mishap occurred after the car collided with a KSRTC bus.

The deceased are Bichu Chandran and Satheesh, natives of Punnamugal, Poojappura, in Thiruvananthapuram. The accident occurred while they were returning home after visiting the Ayyappa temple. Their car reportedly collided with a KSRTC bus that was heading towards Kottarakkara.

The front portion of the car was completely crushed in the impact. Fire and rescue personnel who rushed to the spot had to cut open the vehicle to rescue one of the occupants. All three persons in the car were taken to a private hospital in Venjaramoodu, but two succumbed to their injuries. The injured child was later shifted to another private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram for specialised medical care.

Following the accident, traffic on the MC Road was partially disrupted for some time. The vehicle was removed from the road with the help of the police, fire force personnel, and local residents, after which traffic was restored.