Palakkad: Manoj, a Palakkad native, who was critically injured in the road accident on Srinagar-Leh national highway, succumbed to the injuries on Saturday. It should be noted that the youngster was undergoing treatment in a hospital post the tragic incident. Manoj, 24, is a native of Chittoor and is son of Mahadevan.

It is learnt that the state government will make efforts to bring the mortal remains of Manoj to his native place. Minister K Krishnankutty has spoken to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan in this regard.

With this, the death toll in the fatal accident rose to six. Yesterday, the mortal remains of Sudesh, Anil, Rahul and Vignesh, who were killed in the accident, were brought to the state via flight. The funeral was held at a public crematorium here later in the day.

Manoj’s death adds to the grief of the villagers. Luckily, two others in the friends group could escape with injuries. 

The deceased were part of a 13-member tourist group which left for Kashmir via train from Nedungode area in Chittur on November 30. After reaching Kashmir, the group hired two vehicles and commenced their journey to Ladakh. 

Tragedy struck when one of the vehicles fell into a deep gorge on the Srinagar-Leh highway near Zojila Pass after their car skidded off the road as there was snow all around.