Tourist from Tamil Nadu killed, 10 injured as MUV falls into gorge in Munnar

A 60-year-old tourist from Tamil Nadu was killed and 10 others were injured after a multi-utility vehicle (MUV) they were travelling in fell into a gorge along the Pothamedu-Aatukad road, near Munnar, in Idukki on Tuesday.

According to the police, the deceased has been identified as Prakash, a resident of Tiruvallur in Tamil Nadu. The vehicle was carrying 11 people, including the driver, on the way to a resort after a sightseeing trip in the morning. The accident occurred around 9.30 a.m. The driver lost control of the vehicle while he was reversing it and it plunged nearly 50 feet into a gorge and skidded to a tea plantation. The vehicle hit Mr. Prakash, who was standing outside giving directions to the driver, before falling into the gorge. Trapped under the vehicle, Mr. Prakash sustained serious injuries and died at a private hospital in Munnar.

The injured have been identified as Ashwin, the driver of the vehicle and a resident of Munnar; and Tiruvallur residents Manirathna (33), Preethi (25), Thenmozhi (53), Chellam (45), Kaveri (27), Satheesh (32), Sivapriya (30), Diya (5) and Varalakshmi (47). The injured were initially admitted to a private hospital in Munnar and were shifted to the Theni Medical College.

From two families

According to the police, 10 members from two families reached Munnar for a trip on Monday and were staying at a resort at Aatuakad.

Mr. Prakash’s body was shifted to Government Medical College Hospital, Idukki, for post-mortem examination. The police, the Fire and Rescue Services personnel and local people led the rescue operations.