Boulder Falls on Car on Ooty Road; Retired Air Force Officer Dies

Coimbatore: A 64-year-old retired Air Force officer died after a boulder suddenly slipped from a hillside and fell onto the car in which he was travelling on Ooty Road near Barliyar on Wednesday morning. The deceased has been identified as Krishnamoorthi, son of Belli, a resident of Jagathala in Ooty. He was travelling from Ooty towards Coimbatore in a Skoda Rapid car bearing registration number TN 43 L 5832, along with his wife, son Karthi and two other relatives. Karthi was driving the vehicle. The incident occurred at around 9.20 am when the car was proceeding downhill, around 500 metres from Barliyar on Ooty Road. The boulder suddenly came loose from the hillside and fell onto the car, leaving Krishnamoorthi seriously injured. He was immediately rushed to Mettupalayam Government Hospital for treatment. However, the duty doctor who examined him declared him dead. Mettupalayam Police have initiated an enquiry into the incident. The incident comes as Nilgiris district has been witnessing heavy rainfall over the past two days, with waterlogging reported on several arterial roads. The persistent rain has also affected road conditions in several parts of the district.