1 day ago
Eight Tamil Nadu Students Killed in Kerala Lorry Crash
Eight people died in a car crash in Kerala.
They were believed to be engineering students from Tamil Nadu.
Their car was traveling from Guruvayur toward Kodungallur late Friday night.
It hit the back of a lorry parked on a highway in Thrissur.
Road construction and a traffic diversion were present in the area.
The car was badly crushed, so rescuers had to cut it open.
Some reports said seven people died at the scene and one later died in hospital.
Other reports said six died at the scene and two died after reaching hospital.
Police are checking what happened and who was responsible.
Eight people believed to be engineering students from Tamil Nadu died when their car hit a parked goods lorry.
The crash occurred around 11:40 p.m. Friday at Panambikkunnu Centre in Kaipamangalam, Thrissur, on National Highway 66.
The car was traveling from Guruvayur toward Kodungallur on a roadwork stretch with a traffic diversion.
Rescuers cut open the mangled vehicle, and the victims’ bodies were taken to Thrissur Medical College.
Police are investigating, with reports differing over the death sequence, college affiliation, and responsibility for the collision.
- Who
- Eight people believed to be engineering students from Dindigul, Tamil Nadu; several victims were identified as being from Dindigul, Madurai, and Salem.
- What
- A Tamil Nadu-registered car crashed into the rear of a parked goods lorry, killing all eight occupants.
- Where
- Panambikkunnu Centre in Kaipamangalam, Thrissur district, Kerala, on National Highway 66.
- When
- Around 11:40 p.m. on Friday; the reports were published on September 5, 2026.
- Why
- The precise cause remains under investigation. Police and an FIR cited the lorry’s alleged illegal parking, while reports also said the car was traveling at high speed and may have missed a diversion barricade.
Preliminary Crash Account
Investigation and Conflicting Reports
Responsibility for the collision
Preliminary Crash Account
The FIR and Thrissur Rural District Police Chief Mohammad Nadeemuddin attributed the preliminary responsibility to the lorry driver, alleging that the lorry was parked illegally on the right side of the highway.
Investigation and Conflicting Reports
Police were still investigating the full sequence of events, including whether the car was traveling at high speed and failed to notice the diversion barricade, and whether highway authorities or contractors provided adequate signs.
Death sequence
Preliminary Crash Account
Several reports said seven occupants died at the scene and one later died after being taken to hospital.
Investigation and Conflicting Reports
Other reports said all eight died at the scene, while a PTI report said six died there and two were declared dead on arrival at a hospital.
College affiliation
Preliminary Crash Account
Some reports identified the students as belonging to PSNA Engineering College in Dindigul, based on an identity card recovered from the site.
Investigation and Conflicting Reports
Another report identified the victims as students of P.S.M. Engineering College, while police said they were still verifying all identities.
Key facts
- Deaths
- Eight people were killed.
- Crash time
- Around 11:40 p.m. on Friday.
- Location
- Panambikkunnu Centre, Kaipamangalam, Thrissur district, Kerala.
- Vehicles
- A Tamil Nadu-registered car struck the rear of a Maharashtra-registered goods lorry.
- Travel route
- The car was traveling from Guruvayur toward Kodungallur.
- Road conditions
- The collision occurred near a barricaded diversion on an under-construction stretch of National Highway 66.
- Rescue and recovery
- Locals, police, and Fire and Rescue Services personnel cut open the wreckage; the bodies were taken to Thrissur Medical College.
- Investigation
- An FIR was registered against the lorry driver under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita; police said the driver was absconding.
Quotes
Mohammad Nadeemuddin
Thrissur Rural District Police Chief overseeing the preliminary investigation
“Legal action has been initiated, and an FIR has already been registered. Given the gravity of the case, we have designated the deputy SP of Kodungallur as the investigating officer. There will be a thorough investigation, and immediate and strict action will be taken against whoever is at fault. Necessary preventive measures will be taken by the police.”
theprint.in
“It is definitely a mistake on the part of the lorry driver. An FIR has already been registered. Additionally, regarding the highway authorities and the contractor, we will inspect that as part of the investigation and take strict action.”
theprint.in
Kerala Police
Police authority that issued a statement about the crash
“The car was completely mangled in the impact, and the occupants had to be extricated by cutting open the vehicle. Preliminary information suggests that those travelling in the car were students of an engineering college in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu”
firstpost.com
“Eight people were killed after a car rammed into the rear of a parked goods lorry on the National Highway at Kaipamangalam in Thrissur district. The accident occurred around midnight at Panambikunnu Centre.”
firstpost.com
livemint.com
Sources
Eight engineering students from TN killed in highway crash in Keralam’s Thrissur
8 Killed As Car Rams Into Parked Lorry In Kerala's Thrissur
Eight Tamil Nadu engineering students killed as car rams parked lorry on NH-66 in Kerala
8 students killed after car rammed into a parked lorry in Kerala; probe underway
Eight Tamil Nadu Engineering Students Killed After Car Crashes Into Parked Lorry In Kerala
Kerala news: Eight Tamil Nadu students killed in road accident as car rams into parked lorry in Thrissur
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