Kottayam: A 25-year-old man was killed and 13 others were injured when a private sleeper bus overturned on the national highway at Kalithattu in Mararikulam in Alappuzha early on Thursday.
There were 15 passengers on board when the accident occurred. Preliminary findings suggest the driver may have dozed off and lost control of the vehicle.
Adhil, a digital marketing professional, was returning after a trip to Kannur, the police said. The vehicle veered off the highway and toppled onto the adjoining service road, landing on its side, according to the police. The deceased was Adhil Sajeev of Manthuka in Pandalam. The accident occurred around 5am. The bus, a Platinum Class AC sleeper operated by Hariram Motor Transport, was travelling from Mangaluru to Thiruvananthapuram. There is nearly a two-foot height difference between the highway and the service road. Locals, who rushed to the spot on hearing the noise, and Mararikulam Police carried out the rescue. The injured were admitted to Alappuzha General Hospital and other private hospitals. Adhil’s body has been moved to the mortuary of Alappuzha Medical College Hospital. Traffic on the highway was restored after the bus was lifted using a crane. The police have registered a case.