A car travelling from Kerala and a tourist van collided head-on, killing three men in the car on the spot and injuring 18 passengers in the van, on Kaat Road near the Theni-Periyakulam border on Saturday (December 28, 2024).

Preliminary inquiries revealed that the car from Kottayam, Kerala, was headed for Theni, and the van was proceeding from Theni towards Yercaud.

There were four passengers in the car. The collision was of such intensity that the car was damaged beyond recognition, the police said, adding that the lone survivor in the car was unconscious when rescued. The police are yet to take the passenger’s statement.

Ambulances from multiple locations were rushed to the spot and transported the injured persons to various hospitals — namely the Theni Government Medical College and Hospital and hospitals at Periyakulam and Batlagundu.

The van also suffered serious damage. The Devadanapatti police have registered a case and further investigation is underway.