Eight Tamil Nadu Students Killed As Car Collides With Parked Lorry On Kerala Highway

Eight engineering students from Tamil Nadu lost their lives late Friday night when their car crashed into a stationary goods lorry on National Highway 66 at Kaipamangalam in Kerala's Thrissur district.

Fatal Collision at Highway

The incident occurred around midnight at Panambikkunnu Centre along a section of the highway undergoing major roadworks.

The Tamil Nadu-registered vehicle, carrying eight students from P.S.M. Engineering College in Dindigul, hit the rear of the lorry parked near a temporary diversion. The force of the impact completely crushed the car, trapping everyone inside.

Rescue Operations and Identification

Local residents and emergency responders managed to pull the victims out after cutting through the mangled wreckage. Seven students died on the spot, while the eighth succumbed to injuries shortly after arrival at a nearby hospital.

Five of the deceased have been identified as Vishwa, 20, from Salem; Surya, 20, and Yuvasanjith, 20, from Dindigul; alongside Santhosh, 20, and Prasanna from Madurai. Local authorities are contacting the relatives of the victims while working to confirm the identities of the remaining three.

Police Probe Focuses on Roadwork Hazards

Officers from the Kaipamangalam police station arrived at the scene to clear the highway and secure evidence.

Investigators are currently examining the sequence of events leading to the collision. Officers are focusing specifically on the positioning of the parked lorry near the highway diversion, as extensive widening work on NH-66 across Kerala has led to frequent traffic rerouting and hazard risks. Further enquiries are ongoing.