Three youths killed as car rammed into tree in Kerala's Palakkad

Three youths have been killed after a car in which they were travelling lost control and rammed into a tree and overturned into a paddy field in this district, police said.

The incident occurred on Palakkad-Chittoor road late on Saturday, they added.

While three youths died on the spot, three other passengers of the car were rushed to nearby hospitals with injuries, they said on Sunday.

The deceased were identified as Sanoosh (19), Rohan Ranjith (24) and Rohan Santhosh (22), all natives of Pakakkad. The injured were Rishi (24), Jithin (21) and Adithyan (23).

The fatal accident occurred by around 10.30 pm when the six youths were on their way to Palakkad from Chittoor. It was suspected that the tragedy struck them when the driver swerved the vehicle to avoid collision with a wild boar which suddenly crossed the car.

A police officer said one of the survivors were admitted to a hospital in Thrissur while two others were rushed to a facility in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.

''They sustained only minor injuries. As per their statement, the car was at high speed and the driver suddenly applied the brake as he saw a shadow-like thing, suspected to be a wild animal, on the road causing the accident,'' he said.

All the deceased were friends and they had a habit of travelling together, sources said. The deceased and injured were pulled out of the vehicle by local people, police and fire service personnel.

''Straying of wild boars is a great concern here. The injured said some wild animal like a boar hit at the vehicle,'' a local resident told reporters. The car got mangled in the accident, police added.

Meanwhile, state ministers A K Saseendran and K Krishnankutty condoled the death of the youth and described the incident as ''unfortunate''. They said there are two versions about the cause of the incident.

''Some said that it was due to the attack of a wild boar. It was also said that the tragedy happened as the car hit the tree. So, the exact cause could be ascertained only after a comprehensive probe and a thorough scrutiny,'' forest minister A K Saseendran said.

He assured that all necessary assistance and benefits would be provided to the families of the deceased youths if the accident was caused by wildlife attack. Electricity Minister Krishnankutty also said only a detailed probe could give clarity about the cause of the accident.

''Curve of the road and the hitting of the wild boar..Both things are said as the cause of the accident. We still don't know the exact cause. So, a proper action will be taken after a thorough examination,'' he added.