Thrissur accident that killed 8 T.N. students: Forensic surgeon indicates possible alcohol use

The mangled remains of the car in which eight engineering students from Tamil Nadu were travelling. All eight were killed in the accident at Kaipamangalam. | Photo Credit: KK NAJEEB Preliminary post-mortem findings have indicated that some of the eight engineering students from Tamil Nadu who died in the Kaipamangalam road accident in Thrissur, Keralam, may have consumed alcohol before the crash, according to the forensic surgeon who led the examinations.Dr Hitesh Shankar, Head of the Forensic Medicine Department at Thrissur Medical College and the doctor who supervised the post-mortem examinations, said in a Facebook post that the preliminary assessment pointed to alcohol consumption by the students.However, he cautioned that the presence of alcohol in the blood alone cannot be used to conclusively establish the cause of the accident.“Alcohol consumption can affect a driver’s judgement, attention, reaction time, coordination and perception of speed and distance, significantly increasing the risk of an accident. However, the presence of alcohol in the blood alone does not establish that it was the cause of the crash,” he said.Samples have been sent to the laboratory for detailed examination. The results are expected to establish whether alcohol or any other intoxicating substances were present. Tests are also being conducted to detect the possible use of narcotic or other chemical substances.The devastating crash, which claimed eight young lives and sent shockwaves across society, occurred at around 11.42 pm on Friday at Panampikunnu Centre on National Highway 66 at Kaipamangalam.The students, all from PSNA College of Engineering and Technology in Dindigul, were travelling in a car when it rammed into the rear of a goods lorry parked along the roadside.The impact was so severe that the car was completely mangled. Rescue personnel had to cut open the vehicle to pull out those trapped inside.The post-mortem examinations revealed the catastrophic nature of the impact. Dr Shankar said several of the victims had suffered extremely severe injuries to the head, chest and other vital parts of the body, along with fatal damage to internal organs and major blood vessels.In some cases, the nature of the injuries suggested that death could have occurred instantaneously or within a very short time after the impact.One victim had suffered particularly devastating injuries, with both legs completely severed from the body.The extensive and severe injuries found across different parts of the body — including the head, chest, abdomen and major blood vessels — were consistent with a powerful high-speed impact, according to the forensic observations.Meanwhile, local residents have claimed that the eight-member group had earlier been involved in an altercation with people at Pathamkallu in Thalikulam while trying to arrange a room.According to local residents, they informed the Vadanappally police about the confrontation. As police were expected to arrive, the group allegedly left the area in a hurry.The police have collected visuals from Pathamkallu in connection with the incident and are examining the sequence of events leading up to the fatal crash.Meanwhile, a joint team comprising officials from the police, Motor Vehicles Department, Public Works Department and the National Highways Authority of India will conduct an inspection of National Highway 66 on Tuesday. Published - September 07, 2026 02:12 pm IST