Kerala: 5 Die After Sabarimala Pilgrimage Bus Collides With Auto In Malappuram

Following the accident, the police assured to check the accident spot thoroughly and check for any road issues to avert any further untoward incidents at Mancheri in Malappuram district.

The auto-rickshaw driver was identified as Abdul Majeed.

Source : Getty Images

Five people were killed after an auto-rickshaw collided with a tempo-traveler carrying Sabarimala pilgrims at Mancheri in Malappuram district on Friday. Of the five persons, two of them were children aged seven and four years old. The pilgrims were traveling from Karnataka at the time of the mishap. Five other Sabarimala pilgrims also suffered minor injuries.

According to ANI, Auto driver and 4 passengers of an auto died after the auto collided with a bus of Sabarimala pilgrims coming from Karnataka.

#WATCH | Malappuram, Kerala: Auto driver and 4 passengers of an auto died after the auto collided with a bus of Sabarimala pilgrims coming from Karnataka (15/12)

(Visuals of injured being taken to hospital) pic.twitter.com/rK3K6sYWAo

— ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2023

The deceased include auto-rickshaw's driver Abdul Majeed (50) and passengers Thesleema (34) Muhsina (32) and their children Raiha Fathima (4) and Rinsha Fathima (7) died in the accident, police said, as reported by PTI.

Following the accident, the police assured to check the accident spot thoroughly and check for any road issues. District Police Chief Malappuram Sasidharan S said, "The police will conduct a joint investigation with the motor vehicle department and will check the accident spot properly and see if there are any issues with the road and take steps to make sure such accidents don't happen again."

Meanwhile, several political parties are protesting in Kerala following the alleged mismanagement of pilgrims' surge at the Sabarimala temple this year. Tensions escalated after an 11-year-old girl passed away while trekking to the Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala. Amid these concerns, CM Vijayan addressed the situation and acknowledged daily influx of over 85,000 pilgrims.

SP Pathanamthitta V Ajith Kumar also said that the crowd situation was under control. To manage the rush, the temple has extended the darshan timing for an hour.