SALEM: Seven Sabarimala-bound pilgrims died and four others suffered injuries when a van in which they were travelling met with an accident at Thoppur on the Salem-Dharmapuri border early of Monday. Police sources said the pilgrims had started their journey on Sunday from Sathalur village at Nathella Mandal in Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh. When the van driver was about to take a right turn to enter the Mecheri Road at Thoppur around 1.40 am, a Bangalore-bound private omnibus from Coimbatore rammed into it. Later it was found that the omnibus was over-speeding, almost exceeding 100 kmph. In the impact, the van was thrown into a pit located almost 50 meters away. Seven occupants of the van died on the spot. Two others, including van driver A R Das (35), suffered injuries and were admitted in a private hospital in Salem. Two passengers of the omnibus were also admitted to the Dharmapuri GH with injuries.On information, Salem Collector K Maharabushanam and SP Muthusamy rushed to the spot. The police could not identify the deceased till afternoon as the relatives were yet to arrive. Later it was found that all the victims, except for Kolliappa Srinivasarao, belonged to Sathalur. The deceased were identified as Eadara Srinivasa Rao (46), son of Bhupathiah, Marella Ramakoteswara Rao (48), son of Palaiah, Kolliappa Srinivasarao (43), son of Saidaiah from Palanad Road near Sathalur, Bandarupalli Rajamakar (55), son of Rama Rao, Parini Rajesh (58), son of Pappaiah, Patibandala Raghunatha Babu (56), son of Pornaiah and Mora Raghu (42), son of Chinnabiah.Eadara Srinivasa Rao and Marella Ramakoteswara Rao were teachers, while two others were building workers. The rest were farmers. The Salem unit of Ayyappa Seva Sangam helped in arranging ambulances to send the bodies to the natives of the victims. They also assisted in identifying the bodies. Police sources said omnibus driver S Alagesan of Vayalur has been taken into custody. Van driver Das, who is under treatment, is also being interrogated.
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