As many as 30 Sabarimala pilgrimas sustained injuries when two KSRTC buses collided head-on at Chakkupalam, near Pampa, on Tuesday (December 9, 2025).According to the police, the collision involved a fast passenger bus heading from Chengannur to Pampa and another bus travelling towards Nilackal. Both buses were crowded at the time of the accident. One bus carried 48 passengers, including several Sabarimala pilgrims, while the other had 45 people on board. As the crash occurred during the noon duty-change period, several KSRTC employees were also travelling on the buses.The impact was severe, with one side of a KSRTC bus completely damaged.Nine of those suffering major injuries, including a 10-year-old child, were shifted to the Kottayam Government Medical College Hospital. The remaining passengers with injuries are undergoing treatment at hospitals in Pampa and Nilackal.Police and rescue teams reached the spot and traffic along the route was restored after the vehicles were moved off the road. Authorities have initiated an inquiry into the cause of the accident.Published - December 09, 2025 06:54 pm IST