Five people were killed and two injured when the car in which they were travelling collided head-on with a bus at nearby Perumbavoor today, police said.
The accident occurred in the early hours today when the car carrying seven people from Elappara in Idukki district to Cochin International Airport to see off a relative hit the bus, they said.
The injured were admitted to a hospital in the neighbourhood, police said.
The bus involved in the mishap was reportedly carrying devotees of Lord Ayyappa.
The car was completely damaged in the impact of the collision, police said.
Heavy rain affected rescue operations.