Thrissur accident that killed 8 TN students: Forensic surgeon suggests possible alcohol consumption

The wreckage of the car in which eight engineering students from Tamil Nadu were traveling. All eight died in the accident at Kaipamangalam. | Photo credit: KK NAJEEB

Preliminary post-mortem findings indicated that some of the eight engineering students from Tamil Nadu who died in the Kaipamangalam road accident in Thrissur, Kerala, may have consumed alcohol before the accident, according to the forensic surgeon leading the examination.

Dr. Hitesh Shankar, head of forensic medicine at Thrissur Medical College and the physician who supervised the autopsies, said in a Facebook post that a preliminary assessment pointed to alcohol consumption by the students.

However, he pointed out that the presence of alcohol in the blood alone cannot be used to definitively establish the cause of the accident.

“Alcohol consumption can affect a driver’s judgment, attention, reaction time, coordination and perception of speed and distance, which significantly increases the risk of an accident. However, the presence of alcohol in the blood alone does not prove that it was the cause of the accident,” he said.

The samples were sent to a laboratory for detailed examination. The results are expected to determine whether alcohol or other intoxicants were present. Tests are also underway to detect the possible use of narcotic or other chemical substances.

The devastating accident, which claimed eight young lives and sent shockwaves across society, took place at Panampikunnu Center on National Highway 66 in Kaipamangalam at around 11.42 pm on Friday.

The students, all from PSNA College of Engineering and Technology in Dindigul, were traveling in the car when it rammed into the back of a truck parked along the road.

The impact was so strong that the car was completely demolished. Rescuers had to cut the vehicle open to free those trapped inside.

An autopsy revealed the catastrophic nature of the impact. Dr. Shankar said several victims 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 indicated that death could have occurred immediately or within a very short time after impact.

One victim suffered particularly devastating injuries, with both legs completely severed from the body.

According to forensic observations, the extensive and severe injuries found on various parts of the body – including the head, chest, abdomen and major blood vessels – were consistent with a high-speed impact.

Meanwhile, locals claimed that the eight-member group had earlier engaged in an altercation with people at Pathamkallu in Thalikulam when they tried to arrange peace.

According to local residents, they informed the Vadanappally police about the confrontation. As the police were expected to arrive, the group reportedly left the area in a hurry.

Police have collected visual footage from Pathamkallu in connection with the incident and are probing the sequence of events that led 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 on National Highway 66 on Tuesday.

Published – 07 Sep 2026 14:12 IST