Two children were killed and 10 injured after a goods-laden truck sped into a group of school students at a bus shelter in Nilambur in Malappuram district, on Tuesday. The deceased, Muhammed Shamil and Fida, were class 3 and class 1 students of the Christ King LP School in Manimooly.
The incident happened at about 9.30 am when the truck, carrying copra from Karnataka, swirled off the road and rammed into a motorbike, a truck, an auto-rickshaw and then the bus shelter, near Vazhikkadavu. The auto-rickshaw was also transporting children to the school. Shamil and Fida died on the spot.
The driver of the truck, Mustafa, is reported to have suffered internal injuries and has been hospitalised. Children and others who were injured in the incident are admitted in hospitals in Perinthalmanna, Nilambur and Kozhikode. The condition of one of the injured students is said to be critical.
Preliminary reports said Mustafa (64) had experienced physical discomfort and lost control of the vehicle, resulting in the accident. The condition of Mustafa is reportedly being monitored as a possible case of paralysis.
