Surgery scheduled for Kowdiar crash survivor; driver blames medical emergency

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ashiq Sanu, 29, remains in critical condition at a private hospital following a high-speed collision in Kowdiar on Friday. Ashiq, a resident of Palakkad, is scheduled for major surgery today to repair multiple severe fractures to his limbs. He is the husband of Naushija, who tragically succumbed to her injuries in the same accident. Two other victims, Asma Shirin (a relative of the deceased) and Ali Akbar (a native of West Bengal), are currently undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital.

The incident occurred at approximately 10:30 AM on the Kowdiar-Kuravankonam road. The driver of the vehicle, 77-year-old Mohan Thomas, reportedly told Peroorkada Police that a sudden "blackout" caused by fluctuating blood pressure led to the loss of control. Thomas further cited exhaustion and lack of sleep as contributing factors. Preliminary police findings suggest that Thomas’s physical incapacitation prevented him from releasing the accelerator of his automatic transmission vehicle. While CCTV footage has been secured, investigators noted that the available clips only capture the moments immediately prior to the collision. Investigations are ongoing.