12 Sabarimala pilgrims from AP die as bus falls into gorge

KOTTAYAM: Twelve Ayyappa devotees from
Andhra Pradesh, including ten
women were killed and 35 sustained injuries, five of them seriously,
when their bus overturned and fell into a gorge at Kanamala, near Pampa
Valley (Erumeli), this morning.

Ten pilgrims died on the spot, while two others on way to hospital,
police said here. The bus was on way to Sabarimala, when the accident occurred.

The devotees hailed from various areas of West Godavari District in
AP. The injured had been admitted to the Kottayam Medical College Hospital.
The bodies have been kept at the taluk hospital in Kanjirapally.

Efforts were, meanwhile, on to identify the dead and send the bodies
to AP after post-mortem.

Devaswom Minister G Sudhakaran sanctioned Rs one lakh to each of the
families of the dead. He also visited the injured at the hospital.Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan has also expressed deep sorrow over
the tragedy and assured all help to the victims.

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