Five women lost their lives instantly when a speeding car, driven by a college student, rammed into them as they rested roadside in Pandithamedu near Thiruporur on Wednesday afternoon. The accident occurred around 2:45 pm on Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) while the women were taking a break after grazing their cattle nearby.
The car, with four college students heading to Mamallapuram, veered off and struck the women at high speed near the Payanoor-Pandithamedu junction. The impact threw two victims several feet away. The deceased were identified as M Andhaayi (71), C Logammal (56), G Yasodha (54), S Vijaya (53), and K Gowri (52), all from Pandithamedu village.
Two students, Joshua and Ahmed, were caught by villagers and beaten before police intervened, while two other occupants fled the scene. A manhunt is underway to apprehend them.
Outraged villagers staged a protest, blocking police vehicles and demanding strict action and compensation for the victims’ families. The protest ended after officials assured action. Preliminary investigations confirmed the students were not under the influence of alcohol.
Chief Minister M K Stalin offered condolences and announced ₹2 lakh compensation for each bereaved family. The victims’ bodies were sent to Chengalpet Government Hospital for postmortem, and Mamallapuram police registered a case against the students.
This tragic incident has highlighted the dangers of reckless driving on public roads.
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