Palakkad: The last rites of the four schoolgirls who lost their lives in a truck accident at Panayampadam in Karimba will be held on Friday, following a public homage. 

Postmortem examinations of the deceased students were conducted on Thursday at Palakkad District Hospital. The bodies were handed over to their families on Friday morning at approximately 6.30 am. The students' bodies were placed for public viewing at Karimbanaikal Auditorium from 8.30 am. The burial will take place at 10.30 am at Thuppanad Juma Masjid following the public homage.

The victims, all Class 8 students of Karimba Government Higher Secondary School, were returning home after an exam when the accident occurred. Another student sustained injuries in the incident. The deceased have been identified as Irfana Sherin, daughter of Abdul Salam of Cherulli; Ridha Fathima, daughter of Abdul Rafeeq; Nidha Fathima, daughter of Salam; and AS Ayisha, daughter of Sharafudheen.

The police confirmed that the truck driver and cleaner were taken into custody on Thursday. The suspects have been identified as Mahendra Prasad, the driver, and Varghese, the cleaner. Both hail from Kasaragod. Due to injuries sustained in the accident, they are currently undergoing treatment at Mother Care Hospital in Mannarkkad.

According to Manorama News, the arrests of the accused have not yet been formally recorded. In his statement to the police, the driver claimed that the truck skidded off the road while giving way to another vehicle. He said the vehicle lost control despite applying the brakes due to the wet road conditions.

The Road Transport Officer informed the media that the truck carrying cement to Kozhikode overturned and ran over the students after colliding with another truck from the opposite direction.