Sheshank Kishore Mishra , May. 23, 2011, 8:20pm IST Views: 534

Tiruchirappalli, May 23: Newly elected member of Tamil Nadu legislative assembly Mariam Pitchai was killed in a road accident today when his car collided with a truck near Tiruvelangurichi, about 40 km from Tiruchirappalli.

Pitchai, aged 60, was sworn in as Minister for Environment, Pollution Control and Minorities Welfare in Jayalaithaa led cabinet on May 16. According to police, he was on his way to Chennai after garlanding the statue of community leader Perumpidugu Mutharayar when the accident took place. He is survived by his wife and three sons.

Police further said that four other people were injured in the accident including a police constable.

The minister was proceeding to Chennai after garlanding the statue of community leader Perumpidugu Mutharayar when the accident took place, police said, adding four others were injured in the accident, including a police constable.

Another minister of newly appointed cabinet N R Sivapathy escaped unhurt in the same incident.

AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa sworn in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister for a third time along with 33 ministers on May 16. The AIADMK won 200 seats of the total 234 seats TN Assembly.