Valparai ghat road accident death toll rises to 10

COIMBATORE: The death toll in last week’s van accident on the Valparai ghat road rose to 10 on Wednesday after an injured man died while undergoing treatment in Coimbatore Medical College Hospital.The deceased has been identified as A Nowsath, 39, of Malappuram. A 13-member group comprising teachers and staff members of Pallipparambu Government Primary School in Kerala’s Malappuram district, along with their family members were on a trip to Valparai. The accident happened on Friday evening while they were returning home after visiting Valparai. When the van reached the 13th hairpin bend on the Valparai-Pollachi ghat road, the driver, identified as 21-year-old Mohammed Fasith, allegedly lost control of the vehicle.

The van crashed through the retaining wall and plunged about 800 feet down the mountainside, landing upside down on the road near the ninth hairpin bend.Eight people died on the spot, and another died on the way to the hospital. The other four were admitted for treatment. While 10-year-old girl Maijn was admitted to Pollachi Headquarters Government Hospital, Nowsath, Shahadin, and Fasith were referred to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital for treatment. Maijn returned home after treatment, while the others remained under medical care. Nowsath died on Wednesday morning without responding to treatment.