Speeding car runs over five women grazing cattle near the road in Thiruporur  

In a freak road accident near Thiruporur in Chengalpattu district, five women were killed after a speeding car lost control and ran over them while they were sitting by the road on Wednesday afternoon and grazing cattle on a field off the stretch. Two youth, including the driver of car, were caught by the villagers and thrashed while two others travelling in the car fled the scene. 

The victims have been identified as M. Andhaayi, 71, C. Logammmal, 56, G. Yasodha, 54, S. Vijaya, 53, K. Gowri, 52, of Paiyanur village. They were grazing their cattle in a nearby field while sitting near the road. At around 2.15 p.m., a speeding car proceeding from Thiruporur towards Mamallapuram went out of control and ran over them. Two of the women were flung a few feet away. Seeing the accident, the local villagers and the passersby surrounded the car. While two of the occupants in the car escaped, the villagers caught hold of two others, Johsua and Ahmed, and beat them up.

A senior police officer who confirmed the two youth to be college students said that they had been arrested. According to the police, though the two did not appear to be drunk during the initial investigation, they had been sent for a medical examination. 

Police sources said four youth, including the arrested duo — Joshua 19 and Ahmed 20 — all students of a private college near Thiruporur were travelling in the car to Mamallapuram from Thiruporur on Wednesday afternoon. On nearing the Payyanur-Panditha Medu junction, the speeding car allegedly lost control and ran over the five women.

The villagers from Payyanur blocked the road demanding severe action against the occupants of the car. They also demanded monetary assistance for the family of the deceased. Chengalpattu Superintendent of Police V.V.Sai Praneeth visited the spot and held a preliminary enquiry. The police officials offered assurance to the villagers that their demands would be met. 

The bodies of the victims were recovered and sent to Government General Hospital, Chengalpattu for a post-mortem. Further efforts are on to nab two more persons in connection with the accident.

Published - November 27, 2024 11:42 pm IST