A family trip to the scenic Ponmudi hills near Thiruvananthapuram turned into a tragedy when their car skidded off the road and fell into a gorge, killing a seven-year-old girl and injuring six others.

The accident occurred on the last of the 22 sharp hairpin bends on the Ponmudi ghat road. The car lost control about 200 metres before the final curve, plunging 30 feet down the slope and landing upside down. The vehicle’s tyres got stuck in the soil, which prevented further descent.

The group, consisting of six people including young children, had visited Ponmudi for a day outing. Anoop and his wife Anu had brought along their children, their friends Akhil and Gopika, and their niece — the seven-year-old victim. The girl was the daughter of Aneesh and Shalu, both government school teachers in Kallara.

After the accident, forest department officials and local residents rushed to rescue the trapped occupants. The car doors were jammed due to the impact, and the windows were shattered. The critically injured girl was the first to be evacuated and rushed to the taluk hospital, but she could not be saved. The other six occupants sustained injuries but are reported to be stable.

In a heartbreaking twist, the mother Shalu has not yet been informed about her daughter’s death. She has only been told that the child is injured. The body is expected to be handed over to the family later in the evening after police formalities.

The girl had just secured admission to Class 3 at Kallara Government VHSS and was excited about the new academic year. Relatives said she had been eagerly talking about buying new books and joining her friends in the new class.

Ponmudi, a popular hill station known for its misty weather and scenic views, has been experiencing a massive surge in tourist footfall, leading to heavy traffic congestion on the narrow winding roads. A similar accident had occurred last year at the third hairpin bend, though no fatalities were reported then.

Police have registered a case and are investigating the circumstances of the accident.