One killed as van turns turtle

POLLACHI: A driver of a tourist cab was killed and 16 passengers hailing from Puducherry injured when a maxi cab in which they were travelling overturned near the Tiger Falls in Pollachi on Saturday.A greater casualty was averted as huge trees adjacent to the sharp bend near the Tiger Falls prevented the vehicle from falling into the Aliyar dam. Two of the injured tourists Ayyanar (50)and Pakkiri(49) were rushed to the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital in a serious condition while the rest were treated at the local Government Hospital.The injured included the cleaner of the vehicle. All the injured tourists were workers of a cooperative textile mill at Thirubuvanai in Puducherry.Police said, they were on their way to the popular Monkey Falls after visiting the Aliyar Park when the maxi cab driver P Sudhakar lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a hairpin bend near the Tiger Falls. In the impact, the vehicle overturned. Though Sudhakar, a native of Villupuram, jumped out, the vehicle fell on him killing him instantly.On information, the Aliyar police went to the spot and rescued the injured tourists, who were later taken to the hospital.