More than 10 people killed after bus plunges into river in Kottayam

KOTTAYAM: More than ten persons have been killed after a private bus carrying around 40 passengers plunged into a river in Thazhathangadi, Kottayam this afternoon.

Local residents rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations within minutes of the accident and are understood to have rescued 17 persons.

The District Collector said the help of Naval divers from Kochi has been sought for the rescue work.

Eyewitnesses say the bus was crowded with more than 40 passengers and most of them were students who had boarded it from the tourist destination of Kumarakom.

Jyothilekshmi, a college student who was saved, said all the passengers were sitting at the time of the incident.

Most of the passengers in the bus that was running in the Kottayam-Cherthala route were students who were on their way to see the “pakal pooram” in Thirunakkara.