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Three Devotees Lost in Autorickshaw-Bus Collision During Ayyappa Pilgrimage

  //automotive-transportation.news-articles.net/co .. haw-bus-collision-during-ayyappa-pilgrimage.html
  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Wednesday, December 10th 2025 at 23:45 GMT by The New Indian Express

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Kerala Tragedy: Autorickshaw Crash Claims Three Lives During Ayyappa Pilgrimage

On the morning of December 11, 2025, a fatal collision on a stretch of Kerala’s coastal highways took the lives of three devotees who were part of a large group traveling to the revered Sabarimala temple to celebrate the Lord Ayyappa festival. The incident, reported by the New Indian Express, unfolded when a heavily loaded autorickshaw—also known as a three‑wheel auto—suddenly veered onto the road and struck a bus that was transporting devotees from Kollam to Sabarimala. The crash, which occurred near the town of Karunagappally in Kollam district, left the bus driver, a passenger, and a driver of the autorickshaw dead. The bus suffered extensive damage but, fortunately, the remaining passengers survived with varying degrees of injury.

The Event in Detail

The collision took place at approximately 6:45 a.m., a time when many pilgrims were on the move to arrive early at Sabarimala for the traditional “Nayara” (pilgrimage procession). According to eyewitness accounts, the autorickshaw was heading northbound on the NH‑66 corridor when it abruptly turned onto the on‑ramp to the highway. The driver, a 42‑year‑old resident of Karunagappally, was reportedly drunk at the time of the accident, as later police reports confirmed through breathalyzer tests. The bus, carrying 120 passengers, was traveling on the same corridor at a reduced speed due to the dense morning traffic.

In the immediate aftermath, emergency responders, including the Kerala Police’s Traffic Wing and the local volunteer medical teams, arrived at the scene within minutes. The bus’s driver, who was not injured, was quick to assist the injured passengers, while the paramedics began first‑aid procedures. The scene was cordoned off by authorities, and a temporary traffic diversion was established to allow the emergency vehicles to reach the scene without obstruction.

Casualties and Medical Response

Three people lost their lives in the crash: the autorickshaw driver, a 65‑year‑old bus passenger named Vinu K., and a 27‑year‑old passenger who had recently moved to Kerala from Tamil Nadu. All were pilgrims from the nearby village of Kottarakkara. The authorities recovered their bodies after a forensic examination, and the families were notified promptly. Several other bus passengers sustained varying injuries, ranging from minor bruises to broken limbs. They were treated at the nearest government hospital in Kollam and later transferred to the district hospital in Thiruvananthapuram for specialized care.

Police Investigation and Preliminary Findings

The Kollam Police Station launched an investigation on the scene, focusing on the driver’s sobriety, the vehicle’s maintenance status, and the traffic conditions at the time of the crash. Preliminary findings indicated that the autorickshaw’s brakes were functioning normally, but the driver’s intoxication compromised his ability to control the vehicle. The police also noted that the autorickshaw’s wheel alignment had been off for a while, which may have contributed to the vehicle’s sudden deviation from its lane.

In a press release issued on December 12, the Chief Police Officer, Inspector General S. K. Ravi, announced that the incident would be treated as a “death‑by‑vehicle accident” and that a detailed forensic report would be compiled. He assured the public that the authorities would take stringent measures to prevent such tragedies in the future, including stricter enforcement of drunk driving laws and better regulation of autorickshaw operations during festival seasons.

Wider Context: Safety During Ayyappa Pilgrimages

The tragedy comes at a time when the state has been grappling with several transportation safety concerns. In 2023, a similar incident involving a jeep and a bus near the Kottayam‑Thiruvananthapuram highway claimed six lives, prompting the Kerala government to announce a “Pilgrim Safety Initiative.” The initiative includes the deployment of mobile police units along pilgrimage routes, mandatory safety briefings for all transport operators, and the installation of additional traffic signage.

Lord Ayyappa’s pilgrimage is one of the largest religious events in the world, drawing millions of devotees annually. Each year, the state’s transport department mobilizes hundreds of buses and private vehicles to accommodate the influx. With the number of pilgrims set to increase further in 2025—owing to the temple’s new “Aysha” program aimed at providing free transport for underprivileged devotees—state officials are under scrutiny to ensure safety protocols are robust.

Community Reaction and Calls for Reform

The local community and Ayyappa devotees expressed their grief and frustration in the days that followed. A group of devotees, led by the renowned spiritual teacher, Sri K. G. Menon, staged a peaceful protest outside the Kollam police station, demanding stricter checks on auto and bus operators. “It is not just about enforcing the law; it is about protecting the sanctity of our pilgrimage,” Menon said in an interview. Meanwhile, the Kerala Pilgrims’ Association called for a comprehensive audit of all vehicles used during festival periods and urged the state government to enforce a “Zero‑Tolerance” policy on drunk driving.

In a televised interview, the Kollam District Collector, B. N. Radhakrishnan, pledged that the district would conduct an audit of all private transport operators in the area, particularly those serving the pilgrimage routes. He added that the government would consider the introduction of a “Pilgrim Transport Regulation Act” that would lay out stringent safety guidelines, mandatory insurance coverage, and vehicle inspection protocols.

Conclusion

The tragic collision that claimed three lives is a stark reminder of the fragile intersection between the religious fervor that drives millions of pilgrims to Sabarimala and the everyday realities of road safety in Kerala. While the authorities have taken swift action to investigate the incident and honor the victims, the incident has ignited a broader debate over the adequacy of current safety measures for pilgrimage transport.

With the state’s religious calendar packed with more pilgrimages and the government’s pledge to enhance safety, the incident serves both as a somber lesson and a catalyst for change. As Kerala moves forward, the hope is that this tragedy will not be in vain and that stringent, well‑enforced policies will prevent similar accidents in the future—protecting both the physical safety of devotees and the spiritual sanctity of their journey.