Chennai: In a devastating accident, three trainee doctors from Thoothukudi Government Medical College and Hospital (TKGMCH) lost their lives, while two others sustained serious injuries, after their car skidded and crashed on South Beach Road in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.
Victims Identified
The deceased were identified as:
- S. Sarooban (23) from Coimbatore
- P. Rahul Jebastian (23) from Pudukottai
- S. Mukilan (23) from Tirupattur
All three were undergoing medical training at TKGMCH.
The two injured — R. Kiruthikkukmar (23) of Thoothukudi and Saran (23) of Tirupattur — are receiving treatment at the hospital, according to PTI.
Car Skidded on Rain-Drenched Road
Police stated that the accident occurred at dawn when the group was travelling in a sedan driven by Sarooban. The rain-soaked South Beach Road had become slippery, and preliminary reports suggest the car was speeding when it skidded.
The driver is believed to have lost control while negotiating a curve near a barricade, causing the vehicle to veer off and crash into a roadside tree.
Rescue Efforts and Fatalities
Passers-by alerted the Thoothukudi South Police and Fire and Rescue Services, who rushed to the spot. The impact severely mangled the vehicle, and rescuers had to carefully extract the injured.
Sarooban and Rahul Jebastian were declared dead on the spot. Mukilan, critically injured, was moved to TKGMCH but suffered a sudden cardiac arrest shortly after arrival and could not be revived.
Injured Undergoing Intensive Care
Kiruthikkukmar and Saran sustained multiple injuries and remain in the ICU. Hospital authorities described their condition as serious but stable.
Police Investigation Underway
The Thoothukudi South Police have registered a case and are investigating whether overspeeding, poor visibility, or slippery road conditions contributed to the crash following overnight rainfall.
Campus in Mourning
The tragedy has plunged the TKGMCH campus into grief. Students, staff, and faculty members are mourning the loss of three young, promising doctors whose medical careers had just begun.