Malappuram,18 April (HS): Postmortem procedures of the nine Malayalis who lost their lives in a tragic road accident at Valparai in Tamil Nadu have been completed, and the bodies have been transported to their hometowns in Malappuram.

The postmortem examinations were conducted at Pollachi Taluk Hospital in the early hours of Saturday after the victims’ relatives arrived. The procedures, which began shortly after midnight, were completed around 3.45 am. Following this, religious rites were held at a nearby mosque before the bodies were moved.

A convoy of nine ambulances, escorted by the police, left Pollachi shortly after 6 am, carrying the mortal remains to Malappuram via Palakkad. On arrival, the bodies will be kept for public viewing for an hour at Pangu Higher Secondary School, allowing locals and well-wishers to pay their last respects.

The victims were part of a 13-member group from two schools in Malappuram — Parammal ALP School and Government UP School, Paangu — who had set out on a leisure trip. The group, led by headmistress Ajitha (54) of Parammal ALP School, had begun their journey around 4 am on Friday in a hired tempo traveller for what was intended to be a day of relaxation.

Those who died in the accident include Ajitha, a native of Pulamanthole; teachers Ramla (52), Suhara (43), Asha (41), and Majeed (43), all from Paangu; Sajitha (45), a member of the school’s cooking staff; Naushad (39), the school bus driver; Shakeena (37), a teacher at GUP School Paangu; and Rukhiya (39), Majeed’s wife.

The trip also included family members. Sajitha had travelled with her only son, while another teacher from a nearby school, a close friend of the group, had joined the outing.

Four persons sustained injuries in the accident, including Hisham (12), son of Suhara; Shahadin, son of Sajitha; Masneen (10), child of Shakeena; and Mohammed Fahis, the driver of the traveller. They are currently undergoing treatment.

Police said further investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman