Kochi: Three people, including two children, died after a minivan fell into a pond at Maradu in Kochi on Monday. The vehicle, carrying students of Kids' World daycare centre, fell into the pond on the premises of a shrine on Kattithara Road. There were eight children in the vehicle and six of them were rescued by local people and fire and rescue services personnel.
The deceased children were identified as Vidyalakshmi and Adithyan, and the woman as Latha Unni. All of the victims hailed from Maradu.
The two children and the woman, a staffer of the daycare centre, succumbed to injuries at a hospital. Another child and the driver of the van have been admitted to the hospital. The condition of the child was said to be stable while the driver was admitted to the intensive care unit.
Local residents alleged that lack of railings along the pond caused the accident. The pond is filled with aquatic weeds.