A 38-year-old man died and three others were injured after a car plunged into a river on the Kuttikkanam-Kattappana State Highway on Thursday morning. The incident occurred around 6:30 a.m. at Karuntharuvi in Peerumedu.

According to the police, a five-member family was travelling from Thiruvananthapuram to visit relatives in Chelachuvadu, Idukki, When the vehicle reached Nalammile, the driver lost control of the vehicle and it fell into the Chinnar river, plunging over 70 feet from the road. The driver is suspected to have dozed off while driving the car. Migrant workers from a nearby hollow-brick manufacturing unit and local residents carried out the rescue operations. the rescuers used sacks to transport the individuals involved in the incident.

The deceased has been identified as Jerin D. Ernest, a resident of Vellarada, Thiruvananthapuram, who was driving the vehicle. His wife Divya Jyothi, 29, her sister Navya Jyothi, 27, and her husband Ajith Raj, 36, were injured and admitted to a private hospital at Kottayam. Jerin and DIvya’s three-year-old son Johan narrowly escaped without injuries.

The body of the deceased has been shifted for a post-mortem examination at Idukki Medical College.

Local residents alleged that lack of protection wall on the highway resulted in the accident.

Published - August 06, 2026 08:43 pm IST