A police head constable died in a road accident during an operation against illegal sand mining at Koperimadam village on the East Coast Road (ECR) on Monday (June 15, 2026).

In an early morning operation, a team from the Devipattinam police station impounded three tractors and an excavator from a waterbody, after they received information that a four-member gang was allegedly lifting silt from it illegally. The police arrested them after a discreet probe.

After the seizure of the vehicles, the head constable, Mahesh Kumar, was driving one of the tractors to the Devipattinam police station, when the vehicle collided with a speeding State transport bus – proceeding from Nagercoil to Velankanni – at Koperimadam village, killing him on the spot

In the impact, 29 bus passengers, including nine women, sustained injuries. At least 15 of them were shifted to Ramanathapuram Government Medical College and Hospital for treatment.

Police said that Mahesh Kumar joined the force in 2013. His body was sent to a government hospital for post-mortem examination. Further investigation is under way.

CM accounces ex gratia

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay condoled the death of the head constable and announced a solatium of ₹30 lakh to the bereaved family, a release stated.