Five members of the same family, including a two-year-old child, were killed in a head-on collision involving two cars near Madurai on Monday morning.
Police said the crash occurred around 6 am on the Thumbaipatti bridge in Melur taluk. A car driven by Sriram (25) reportedly swerved to avoid hitting a two-wheeler ahead, lost control, crossed the centre median and collided with an oncoming car heading towards Tiruchy.
Sriram, his wife Ranjana (24), their daughter Kruthika (2), his brother Balaji (30) and their mother Rajakumari (52) died on the spot. Sriram’s father Kanagaraj (55), who was travelling in the same car, and Prakash (42), the driver of the other car, sustained serious injuries and are undergoing treatment at the Madurai Government Hospital.
The family, residents of the Padi Kuppam area in Chennai, were travelling to Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi district to see Balaji’s newborn baby. Rescue operations were carried out by police and fire service personnel, and the accident site was inspected by district and police officials.
