At least five persons died and twenty others were injured when the van in which they were travelling in collided with a tractor near Gandarvakottai this evening.
A group of 30 persons, all hailing from Thaalampatti village in Thanjavur district were returning home in the ill-fated EICHER van after attending a marriage in Aranthangi in Pudukottai district when the mishap occurred.
The van was proceeding on the road near Pudhu Nagar in Punalkulam area in Gandaravakottai police limit when the tractor collided with it. In the mishap, four persons died on the spot while one more persons died on the way to hospital. The deceased were identified as Kavi Arasan (15), Mahendran (15), Marimuthu (30), Ramaraj (35) and Sanjai Vinod Kumar (22). Besides, twenty others were grievously injured. All the injured were rescued and admitted to Thanjavur Medical College Hospital (TMCH).
Gandarvakottai police have registered a case and further investigation is on.