The fatal accident on the scenic but treacherous Valparai–Pollachi Ghat Road in Tamil Nadu left nine tourists from Kerala dead on Friday evening, and sent shockwaves across both states. Victims were in a group of 13 people returning from a trip to Valparai when the vehicle lost control and careened into a deep gorge.
The driver of the van reportedly lost control as he tried to negotiate a tight hairpin bend about 5:15 p.m. The crash occurred near the 13th hairpin bend when the vehicle veered off the road, falling down the steep terrain, and reportedly falling as far as the 9th bend below.
Nine passengers died directly from the impact. Ajitha (54), Ramla (52), Suhra (43), Asha (41), Majeed (43), Sajitha (45), Shakeela (37), Rukiya (39) and Hisham (12) died. Five of them were female teachers from a government LP school in Pang, Kerala’s Malappuram district.
#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
The loss is one that has been crushing to the local community. The crash left four others, including the driver, critically injured. They were rescued, brought to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, where they are being treated. The authorities consider their health to be serious.
Rescue operations were extremely difficult in the terrain, steep slopes, thick forest cover and hard ghat section with no safe environment whatsoever. Emergency responders, local police, and police forces all worked continuously to recover bodies and evacuate those who had sustained injuries.
The dwindling daylight also made rescues that much more difficult, officials said. Pawan Kumar G. Giriyappanavar, Coimbatore District Collector, arrived on-site to inspect the scene of the accident, ensuring proper help was administered. Post-mortem examinations have been requested for the bodies of the victims, and a police case has been filed to find out the exact cause of the accident.
Early results show a mix of sharp curves with some potential loss of driver’s control, but the cause remains to be evaluated. Valparai–Pollachi Road is under scrutiny as well and has its own complaints, particularly for fast driving or vehicle loss of control. PM Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow for the incident.
He expressed condolences to the families in mourning and wished a quick recovery to the injured. Also, in a message he added, he said: He was extremely unhappy to hear about lost lives. At this point, he prayed for them very much. The tragic accident is also a clear indication of the hazards on hill roads and necessitates increased protection on those identical roadways.
