20 injured as bus carrying wedding party crashes into fuel station in Kochi, major tragedy averted

KOCHI: Around 20 people were injured after a bus carrying a wedding party overturned and crashed into the premises of a fuel station in Koothattukulam in Kerala’s Ernakulam district on Thursday.

The bus was carrying around 35 passengers when the accident occurred at Kakkoor on the Koothattukulam-Piravom road. The injured were taken to hospital and were reported to be in stable condition.

According to Koothattukulam police, the passengers were part of a wedding group travelling from Piravom towards Ilanji. Elderly people, women and children were among those on board.

Police said the bus driver swerved suddenly in an attempt to avoid a two-wheeler that was turning towards the fuel station.

The driver reportedly applied the brakes and turned sharply to the right to avoid a collision, causing the bus to lose control. It overturned onto its side before sliding into the fuel station premises.

Despite the bus crashing into the fuel station compound, no major casualties were reported, averting what could have been a more serious tragedy.

CCTV footage of the accident showed the bus overturning and sliding off the road into the fuel station area.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident.