Kottayam: A mini bus carrying Sabarimala pilgrims met with an accident at Manathoor near Ramapuram here.

17 devotees were injured in the accident. Of them, five are in critical condition, it is learnt.

The accident occurred on the Thodupuzha-Pala highway around 1 a.m. The devotees from Vellore in Tamil Nadu were travelling to Sabarimala.

The bus reportedly hit on a boundary marker and lost control. It rammed into a compound wall near the road. The glasses were broken and passengers were thrown out on impact.

Natives, police and the fire force carried out rescue operations. It is assumed that the driver fell asleep resulting in the mishap.