Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Nine killed in bus smash

By S. Sundar

VIRUDHUNAGAR Nov. 16. Eight women passengers and the driver of a private bus were killed when a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus collided with it near Aruppukkottai on the Virudhunagar-Aruppukkotai road today. Thirtyfour others were injured.

According to the police, the TNSTC driver, Jyoti Basu (45), was driving the vehicle at a high speed, when he saw the private bus negotiating a curve. And the TNSTC bus, proceeding to Rameswaram from Rajapalayam, hit the private bus, killing its driver, Sankar (34), and seven women passengers on the spot.

In the impact of the collision, five rows of seats behind the driver's seat of the Virudhunagar-Mudukulathur private bus were smashed. Both the buses got entangled and fire service personnel used gas-cutters to extricate them. Many bodies, including that of Sankar, were removed from the mangled remains.

The injured were taken to the Aruppukkottai Government hospital, where 17 passengers were treated as outpatients. Thirteen of the injured, including five women, were referred to the Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai.

Among those killed on the spot are Malliga (35) of Palavanatham, Motchammal (47) and Lakshmiprabha (21) of Pandalgudi. Rukmani (51) of Kariappatti, succumbed to her injuries in the Madurai hospital.

The police are trying to establish the identity of the other four victims.

The Aruppukkottai town police have registered a case against Jyothi Basu, for causing accident by negligence.

Our Chennai Special Correspondent reports:

The Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, sanctioned Rs. 50, 000 each from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund to the next of kin of those killed in the accident. She also sanctioned Rs. 15,000 each to those who were seriously injured and Rs. 6,000 each to those who sustained simple injuries.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• 'Dangerous trends' shock rights activists
• Inter-State gang behind call girl racket
• CM's `intemperate' remarks draw opposition flak
• Verbal support to Eelam Tamils no offence: Vaiko
• Nine killed in bus smash
• Nedumaran moves HC
• Big temple safe under ASI care
• Building demolition triggers DMK protest in Coimbatore
• Why blame DMK for poor finances, asks Chidambaram

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu