Tragic Accident in Pathanamthitta: Two Children Killed as Auto Plunges into Gorge

New Delhi, November 27, 2025: A pall of grief has settled over Thoompakulam in Pathanamthitta, Kerala, following a devastating autorickshaw accident that claimed the lives of two young schoolchildren on Wednesday afternoon. The tragedy, which occurred when the auto driver swerved to avoid a snake on the road, has highlighted serious concerns about road safety in the region.

The Fatal Accident

The incident took place around 3:30 p.m. as an autorickshaw was taking students home from Sree Narayana School in Karimanthode. The vehicle, carrying six children and the driver, reportedly encountered a snake suddenly crossing the road. In an attempt to avoid hitting the reptile, the driver lost control, causing the autorickshaw to plunge approximately 50 to 150 feet (sources vary on the exact depth) into a deep gorge, ultimately landing near a tributary of the Kallar River.

The accident site is described as a remote, hilly area adjacent to a forest, where local schoolchildren frequently rely on autorickshaws and jeeps for transport due to the lack of regular public services.

The Victims and Injured

The deceased children were identified as Adilakshmi (8), a Class 3 student, and Yadukrishna (4), an LKG student. Both were students at Sree Narayana School.

• Adilakshmi was declared dead shortly after being rushed to a private hospital.
• Yadukrishna was initially reported missing, which led to a frantic, hours-long search operation by locals, police, and fire force teams. His body was tragically discovered later that evening, around 8 p.m., in the stream beneath the wreckage.

Three other children sustained injuries in the crash. Jewel Sarah Thomas, a student, is reported to be in critical condition and has been shifted to a private medical college hospital in Thiruvalla. She reportedly suffered rib fractures, partial lung damage, and leg fractures. Two other injured children, Sabarinath and Alphonsa, are receiving treatment at a hospital in Pathanamthitta.

The driver of the autorickshaw, along with one child, reportedly escaped with minor or no major injuries.

Community Response and Safety Concerns

Local residents rushed to the scene immediately upon hearing the crash. In the initial confusion and urgency to save the victims, verifying the exact number of passengers was difficult, which contributed to the delay in realizing four-year-old Yadukrishna was missing. Rescue efforts were eventually coordinated by authorities, including the local MLA, who directed the use of floodlights to search the rock-filled slopes and the stream in the remote, forested region.

The tragedy has brought into sharp focus the lack of safety barriers or crash walls along the treacherous road connecting Karimanthode to Thoompakulam. Residents and local authorities are now calling for immediate government action to improve road infrastructure in these high-range areas to prevent future catastrophes. This incident also highlights the recurring dangers of human-wildlife encounters, especially with reptiles, on remote roads in forest-adjacent regions, and the split-second decisions drivers must make in such perilous situations.