Three joggers killed in early morning mishap

  Kayamkulam woke up to a shocking tragedy this morning when three young lives were snuffed out by an unknown vehicle near Maliyekal Junction on the National Highway-47.

According to the Kayamkulam police, Anup, 18, his brother Achu, 15, both sons of Ashok Kumar of Chaithram, Pathiyurkala, and Pramod, 16, son of Prem Kumar, were jogging alongside the NH-47 near Maliyekal Junction when the accident occurred. The vehicle that ran over them is yet to be identified and it was a passerby on a two-wheeler who alerted the police around 5.45 a.m. on Wednesday.

While both Achu and Pramod were killed on the spot, Anup died while being rushed to the Alappuzha Medical College. The bodies of Achu and Pramod are at the Haripad Government Hospital while that of Anup is at the Alappuzha Medical College for post-mortem.

Kayamkulam Circle Inspector A.R. Shanihal, who said the police was trying its best to identify the killer vehicle, said the bodies would be handed over to relatives by evening, but the funerals of Achu and Anup were likely to be held later only, since their father was on his way from Dubai.

Rupee gains 10 paise against US dollar in early trade

  The Indian rupee appreciated by 10 paise to Rs. 52.86 per US dollar in early trade on the Interbank Foreign Exchange on Monday, supported by gains posted by the euro and other currencies against the American dollar overseas and a better opening in the domestic stock market.

Dealers said dollar weakness against the euro and other currencies overseas and gains recorded on the domestic bourses in early trade today supported the rupee sentiment.

The rupee had closed 24 paise lower at Rs. 52.96/97 per US dollar in the previous session on Friday on sustained demand for the US currency from importers and some banks amid weakness in the equity market.

The 30-share BSE Sensex rose by 90.11 points, or 0.57 per cent, to 15,828.81 in opening trade today.