Road accident in Pothanikkad in Kothamangalam killed seven. A lorry ran over a rally organized by Indian National Congress Mandalam Committee. While the enthusiastic party workers engaged in the last preparation to start the procession, quite unexpectedly, a lorry carrying stone rushed to the scene as a killer giant. 

Some lost their lives on the spot under the wheels and others in the hospital. Many others were seriously injured. After the primary enquiry, the transport officials have reached the conclusion that the lorry had no mechanical problem. Ernakulum district authority and police officials said the accident occurred as the result of careless driving. Party workers were standing in two lines. All of a sudden the killer lorry crushed 7 people into pieces. This is one of the worst road accidents in recent times. 

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, K.P.C.C president Ramesh Chennithala, leader K. Karunakaran, other political leaders expressed their condolence. Congress party offered 5 lakh each to the members of the dead ones.

Road accidents have increased in Kerala of late. Police and transport authorities become mute spectators to many accidents. All over Kerala, around 4,500 people are killed in each year, according to official statistics. Pedestrians, motorists, passengers, drivers etc are among those who lose their lives in these accidents. Most of the accidents are reported as human error; either careless driving or violation of traffic rules. There is no guarantee of the travelers returning home safely after a road journey in Kerala. 

Anybody can violate traffic rules here. Drivers can control their vehicles according to their rules, not by the government rules. Many of them don't respect the traffic laws. If once caught, either they escape by throwing some money at the right person or through the intervention of politicians. In Kerala, speaking over mobile phone while driving is not a rare scene. Even drunkards can drive in Kerala. The law and rules go one way. Some are riding beyond the law. When Police become spectators of the violation, nobody can expect the justice. 

In gulf countries, the traffic law is very rigid and punishment for traffic violation is implemented mercilessly. So drivers’ respect the law and that reduces the number of accidents. Many Keralite drivers lost their job in Gulf countries when they had violated traffic rules just as in Kerala.
 

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