Seven killed including child in twin accidents

Seven people, including a child, were killed in two separate road accidents near Ettayapuram in Thoothukudi district and Mandapam near Rameswaram in Ramanathapuram district.
In the first incident, Baskaran (45) of Kolathur in Chennai was travelling to Tiruchendur temple with his wife Vanitha (37), daughter Sandhya (15), son Pradeep Kumar (13) and relative Vasanthi (40). The car was driven by Palani (45), also from the same locality.
After completing their visit, the family was returning home when their car rammed into the rear of a lorry parked along the Thoothukudi-Madurai National Highway near Kottur, close to Ettayapuram. Baskaran, Vanitha, Vasanthi and driver Palani died on the spot.
Their bodies were later recovered from the mangled vehicle by police. Sandhya and Pradeep Kumar, who sustained serious injuries, were initially taken to the Government Hospital in Ettayapuram and later shifted to Thoothukudi Government Medical College
Hospital for further treatment. Ettayapuram police have registered a case and are questioning the lorry driver, Subramanian from Tenkasi. In another accident near Mandapam, Kausalya of Vedhalai was returning from a private hospital after taking her four-year-old daughter Navya for treatment. The scooter was ridden by her brother Kapil (19). An oncoming motorcycle collided with the scooter, resulting in the death of Kapil and Rithis (20) of Kunjarvalasai, who was riding the motorcycle. Navya, who was critically injured, later succumbed to her injuries. Kausalya is undergoing treatment. Mandapam police are investigating the incident.