Palakkad: A heartbreaking accident in Kalladikode, Palakkad, claimed the lives of four school children and left several others injured when a truck lost control and rammed into them.

According to Malayalam media reports, the incident occurred around 4 PM on Thursday as students were walking home after school. The truck, allegedly speeding and carrying a load of cement, veered off course and overturned onto the children near Karimba Higher Secondary School.

Eyewitnesses reported that while one student managed to leap out of the truck's path, others were trapped beneath as the vehicle overturned. Three students died on the spot, and one succumbed to injuries in the hospital. The bodies of the victims have been sent to nearby facilities, including Thachampara ESAF Hospital and Mannarkkad Mother Care Hospital.

The accident took place on the national highway, with preliminary investigations suggesting that heavy rain may have caused the driver to lose control. Some accounts indicate the truck collided with another vehicle before overturning and eventually crashing into a tree near a house.

Rescue efforts involved locals, police, and fire and rescue personnel. A crane was used to lift the overturned truck as authorities worked to ensure no one remained trapped underneath. Ambulances transported the injured students to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Police, quoted by media outlets, confirmed that the condition of three injured students remains critical. The incident has left the local community in deep shock and has raised urgent concerns about road safety measures near schools located along busy highways.