New Delhi: A tourist van in Pang village in Malapurram was shaken by a road accident in Valparai near Pollachi in Tamil Nadu. The residents were shocked as they heard the news of a tourist group consisting of teachers and staff from Pang Palliparamba GLP School met with an accident in Valparai.
Nine people died in the incident, including a child, seven women and a man, while four are injured, including the driver. The condition of three is very critical, and two of them have been shifted to Coimbatore Medical College. The victims are identified as Ajitha (54), Ramla (52), Suhara (43), Asha (41), Majeed (43), Sajid (45), Shakeela (37), Naushad (39), Ruqiya (39), Hisham (12), Shahdeen (11), Masneen (10) and Pashit (21).
Many feared dead as a van carrying tourists from Kerala met with an accident on the ghat section of #Valparai – Pollachi Road on Friday, April 17.
The van veered off when the driver negotiated the 13th hairpin bend. @THChennai pic.twitter.com/1tZZRIVs9d— Wilson Thomas (@wilson__thomas) April 17, 2026
How the accident took place?
The accident took place between Valparai and Pollachi and the exact site is 30 km away from Pollachi. A group of teachers and staff members had gone on a field trip from school on Friday morning due to holidays, and met with a tragic accident around 5:15 pm. The tourist van got completely destroyed. As per the driver’s statement recorded by the police, who is undergoing treatment for his injuries, they were going to Valparai via Malakkappara via Athirappilly.
The accident occurred while they were returning to Kerala via after reaching Valparai. While returning via a road with 40 hairpin bends, the van lost control at the 13th bend, hit the guardrail and then overturned at the 9th hairpin bend. Eight people died on the spot while rescue workers carried out the operations to save the rest, as the ones injured were rushed to the government hospital in Pollachi in ambulances.
#WATCH | Valparai, Tamil Nadu: Visuals from the spot, after a van driver lost control, and the vehicle rumbled to the 9th hairpin bend. 7 people died in this incident, and further details are awaited. https://t.co/X2ByN7Jqkn pic.twitter.com/gG9kujyHzD
— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2026
Prime Minister and Chief Minister expresses condolences
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also tweeted that he was deeply saddened by the Valparai accident. He said that he shares the grief of those who have lost their loved ones and expresses his condolences. He also said that he prays for the speedy recovery of those injured.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also said that the accident was very sad and that the loss of the teachers is an irreparable loss for the entire country. He has instructed to ensure the best treatment for the injured ones, and the government will provide necessary assistance to the families of the deceased.