Vaikom (Kerala): In a heartbreaking tragedy that stunned residents of Vaikom, a 33-year-old doctor lost his life after his car plunged into a canal in the dead of night.

The victim, Dr Amal Suraj, a native of Ottapalam in Palakkad district, was working at a private hospital in Kottarakkara, Kollam.

Police said the horrific accident came to light only on Friday morning, when locals spotted a car floating near the Thottuvakam bridge and raised an alarm.

Fire and Rescue Service personnel rushed to the spot and pulled out the vehicle—only to find the young doctor lifeless inside.

Investigators believe the accident occurred in the early hours, unnoticed in the darkness, leaving the vehicle submerged for hours.

Based on the car’s registration number, police traced the victim’s family and confirmed his identity. The body has been shifted to the Government Hospital in Vaikom for post-mortem.

Police have launched an investigation to determine how the car veered off the road and plunged into the canal.

What began as an ordinary commute turned into a silent tragedy, leaving a community in shock and a young doctor’s dreams abruptly ended beneath the still waters of Vaikom.