Kollam: Four die as ambulance collides with bus

KOLLAM: Four persons, including two women, died when an ambulance carrying them  collided with a  KSRTC bus at Kunnikkode near Punalur on Thursday morning. The deceased were identified as Fathima Beevi, 72, of Sudheer Manzil, Kadakkaman, Pathanapuram, her granddaughter Sabeena, 34, of Malankavu, Kundayam, her brother Shereef, 30, and ambulance driver Subin Thomas, 32, of Pullanjimoottil veedu, Pidavoor. Hajira Beevi, 38, daughter of Fathima Beevi, suffered serious injuries and was admitted to Thiruvananthapuram MCH.

The accident occurred near Pachilavalavu at Kunnikkode along the Kollam – Thirumangalam National Highway by 11 a.m.  when the ambulance overtook a vehicle and collided with the KSRTC bus which was going  towards Punalur. The ambulance was  proceeding towards Kottarakkara carrying Fathima Beevi who developed suffocation at a private hospital in Pathanapuram.    The injured were taken to Kottarakkara taluk hospital, but the four were declared brought dead. The Kunnikkode police conducted the inquest and released the bodies to the relatives after autopsy at the Thiruvananthapuram MCH.