Woman Dies, Several Injured as KSRTC Bus Falls Into Gorge on Nelliyampathy Ghat Road
A 55-year-old woman was killed and several others injured when a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus skidded off the treacherous Nelliyampathy ghat road and plunged into a teak plantation in Palakkad district on Monday morning.
The accident occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. when the bus, travelling from Nelliyampathy to Nenmara, lost control at a sharp curve near Pothundy Dam. Preliminary reports suggest the driver was unable to negotiate the bend on the rain-soaked road, causing the vehicle to veer off the narrow hillside and fall about 20 feet into the plantation below.
The deceased has been identified as Jayanti, 55, wife of Swami, a resident of Pulayanpara. Her body was recovered by rescue teams and shifted to the Government District Hospital in Palakkad for post-mortem. Authorities have informed her family.
According to officials, around 80 passengers were aboard the bus at the time of the incident. While no passengers were reported trapped in the wreckage, several sustained injuries, some of them serious. The injured were rushed to hospitals in Nenmara and Palakkad, where they are receiving treatment. Medical teams have been mobilised to attend to the casualties.
Rescue operations were carried out jointly by the Fire and Rescue Services, local police, and residents of nearby areas, who reached the spot immediately after hearing the crash. The district administration has announced ex gratia relief to the kin of the deceased and to those injured.
The Nelliyampathy ghat road, known for its hairpin bends and steep gradients, is part of the Western Ghats and is frequently used by tourists and locals. During the monsoon season, the road becomes particularly hazardous due to slippery surfaces and poor visibility. This incident highlights recurring concerns about the safety of ghat roads in Kerala and the need for better maintenance of public transport vehicles.
Senior police and revenue officials visited the site after the accident. A detailed investigation has been ordered to determine the exact cause, including whether any mechanical failure was involved. The KSRTC has said it will cooperate fully with the inquiry and provide compensation to the victims as per norms.
Local residents have long demanded the installation of safety barriers and improved road markings on the Nelliyampathy stretch. Monday's tragedy is likely to intensify calls for urgent road upgrades to prevent further loss of life in this accident-prone region.
