In a gory road mishap, three pilgrims from Tenedapalayam of Pollachi taluk, Coimbatore district were killed on the spot, and six others were grievously injured when their SUV hit a roadside tree near Mungilipattu village of Chandragiri mandal, 50 km from here, in early hours of Saturday.
According to the Chandragiri police, a ten-member pilgrim party was returning to their place after visiting Tirupati, when the vehicle made a collision with the tree. The incident took place around 4.30 a.m. Drivers of other vehicles passing the tragic site informed the ambulance service and the area police, who swung into action and took up relief operations.
The deceased were identified as Subramanyam (45), Rukmini (30) and Yogeswari (1). Of the six injured, including two women, who were rushed to SVRR Hospital at Tirupati, the condition of two is said to be serious. The police said the pilgrim party consisted of family members and relatives. The bodies of the deceased were removed to the area hospital for autopsy.