Chennai, Apr 28 (UNI)The toll in last evening collision between two cars, in

Tirunelveli district rose to seven with one more person succumbing to injuries,

even as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin announced financial assistance

to the families of the deceased and injured on Monday.

The accident occurred on the Tirunelveli-Nagercoil highway killing six people

of a same family on the spot and injuring eight others.

One of the injured, undergoing treatment at the hospital, succumbed on Monday,

taking the toll to seven, where the other injured were undergoing treatment.

While one car was heading towards Tirunelveli from Nagercoil, the other car was

proceeding to Kanniyakumari from Tirunelveli, when the mishap occurred.

In all 16 people were travelling in both the cars.

The deceased were identified as Danisdoss (68), his wife Margaret Mary (60),

their son Jobert (40), his wife Amudha (35) and their children Jobina (8) and

Jogan (2).

The seventh who died today, was identified as Melkas (60).

All the victims hailed from Tirunelveli and its neighbouring areas.

The injured were identified as Ms Balakrishnaveni (36), Ms Anbarasi (32),

Priyadarshini (23), Santhosh 921), Atchayadevi (19), Praveen (10) and

Aswin (8).

Expressing deep anguish and grief over their deaths, Mr Stalin directed the

hospital authorities to provide best of treatment to the injured.

Offering his deepest condolences to the bereaved family members, he also

announced a solatium of Rs two lakh each to their family, Rs one lakh each

to those who sustained serious injuries and Rs 50,000 each to those who

suffered minor injuries from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund.

UNI GV 2215