Speeding car kills two pedestrians

KOTTAYAM: Two pedestrians were killed by a speeding car at Kumarakom on Sunday. The victims, Sethu, 45, wife of Chengalam Nelprayil (Thenamparampil) Prakash, and her mother Chellamma alias Sathiamma, 65, were walking on the sidewalk of the road when the car crashed into them, killing the duo on the spot.The accident occurred around 1.30 pm on the Kumarakom-Kottayam Road at Chengalam near the Public Library Junction.The police have arrested the car driver Unni, 42, of Chirayil House, Arpookkara, and fellow passenger Girish, 32, of Thevalakkattusseri House, Aymanam.According to the police, the driver and other three passengers in the car were reportedly in an inebriated state. The accident happened when the driver lost control over the vehicle.The car, which was coming from Kottayam to Kumarakom, had evaded police checking at the Kumarakom Market Junction just before the incident.Infuriated over the incident, the local residents destroyed the vehicle. They also blocked traffic on the Kottyam-Kumarakom route for more than five hours, demanding the authorities to ensure the safety of the people.The locals alleged that Kumarakom being a tourist centre, drunken driving is rampant in the area. They said that four accidents were reported from this area within one year.