Synopsis
A tragic incident in Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, involved a speeding car hitting two schoolchildren after a local temple festival, resulting in one death and another in critical condition. The community mourns the loss as authorities investigate the accident.Key Takeaways
- Ramanathapuram district accident involving schoolchildren.
- One child deceased and another critically injured.
- Driver arrested and under investigation.
- Significant reduction in road fatalities reported in Tamil Nadu.
- Community support for grieving families.
Chennai, April 14 (NationPress) A heartbreaking incident took place in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu on Monday when a fast-moving car struck two schoolchildren who were returning from a local temple festival, tragically resulting in one fatality and leaving the other in critical condition.
The victim has been identified as 13-year-old Shanmuga Priya, while 14-year-old Hari Surya suffered severe injuries. Both children were residents of Sayalgudi in the district.
As per reports from the police, the two students were making their way home after participating in the temple festival near their neighborhood when a vehicle, allegedly traveling from Rameswaram to Thoothukudi, collided with them right in front of their residence.
Shanmuga Priya was pronounced dead at the scene, whereas Hari Surya was immediately transported to the Ramanathapuram Government Hospital with multiple serious injuries.
The local police inspector confirmed that the driver, identified as 40-year-old Shiva, has been arrested.
The atmosphere in the area turned somber as community members gathered near the family’s home to offer condolences.
The driver is currently undergoing interrogation.
Despite the rigorous enforcement of traffic regulations, such a devastating incident occurred.
Notably, Tamil Nadu has witnessed a significant reduction in road accident fatalities over the previous year. In 2024, the state recorded 18,074 deaths resulting from 17,282 fatal accidents—273 fewer deaths compared to 2023, which reported 18,347 fatalities from 17,526 accidents.
The State Director General of Police, Shankar Jiwal, credited this decline to a combination of strict traffic law enforcement, crackdowns on intoxicated driving, and targeted actions at accident-prone areas or ‘Black Spots’.
In-depth analysis of 2023 statistics revealed that driver error accounted for 16,800 of the fatal accidents that year. To tackle these concerning figures, the police identified 6,165 Black Spots based on traffic volume, environmental factors, and accident history. Safety measures were implemented at 3,165 of these locations in collaboration with the State Highways Department. Actions included speed control measures, warning signs, and improvements in road engineering.
Moreover, the Highway Patrol Mobile Application has been instrumental in raising public awareness and strengthening on-ground enforcement.
Highway patrol teams successfully rescued and provided medical assistance to over 12,600 critically injured victims during the critical Golden Hour. To further promote road safety, the Tamil Nadu Police have initiated thousands of public awareness campaigns that encourage responsible road behavior.
