Tamil Nadu Minister Dies In A Car Accident

Tiruchirapalli N. Mariyam Pichai, Minister of Tamil Nadu for the environment and combating pollution and social minorities, has died in a traffic accident near Tiruchirapalli Monday morning, authorities said.

Pichai, 60, was traveling from Chennai, about 330 km from Tiruchirapalli, who had sworn a member of the Assembly of the state during the day.

According to state officials, Pichai had sat beside his driver in the car that hit a truck from behind while trying to double in 19 hours.

Minister of Sports and Youth Protection Sivapathi NR, traveling behind the car, officials reported the accident.

Officials said seven people were traveling by car Pichai and all the others suffered minor injuries.

Pichai DMK has won the KN Nehru has recently concluded assembly elections.

He is survived by his wife and three children.