Thrissur: Eight engineering students from Tamil Nadu were killed after the car they were travelling in crashed into a stationary goods lorry on National Highway 66 in Kerala's Thrissur district around midnight on Friday.

The accident occurred at Panambikkunnu Centre in Kaipamangalam, where road widening work is underway. The Tamil Nadu-registered car, carrying all eight students, reportedly hit the rear of a lorry parked near a temporary diversion. The victims were students of PSM Engineering College in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.

Seven students were reportedly killed at the scene, while the eighth was taken to hospital with serious injuries but later died. Rescue teams had to cut open the wreckage to reach those trapped inside. Five of those killed have been identified as Vishwa, 20 (Salem); Surya, 20 (Dindigul); Yuvasanjith, 20 (Dindigul); Santhosh, 20 (Madurai); and Prasanna (Madurai). Authorities were working to identify the remaining three victims and contact their families.

Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the crash. The car, bearing registration number TN 59 DW 8299, was travelling along NH-66 when it crashed into the parked lorry. Extensive widening work continues on several stretches of the highway, with diversions and traffic restrictions in place at various locations.

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