7 Ayyappa devotees from Andhra killed in mishap

SALEM: Seven Sabarimala pilgrims were killed and 15 injured when the van in which they were travelling collided with a bus near here today.The van from Andhra Pradesh was carrying nine Ayyappa devotees on their way to the Sabarimala hill shrine in Kerala when the mishap occurred at 1.40 AM, Salem Collector Magarabhusan and Superintendent of Police P R Muthuswamy said.All the deceased were from Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.The injured comprised drivers of both vehicles, a devotee and 12 bus passengers who have been hospitalised.The private bus was on its way to Dharmapuri.