Six persons, including five women, were killed on the spot and eight others injured in a jeep-bus collision on Kumuli-Theni Highway at Thennan Chalai near Uthamaplayam on Sunday evening.
The deceased were Seeniammal (65), Nilavarani (45), Seethai (50) of Pallikottaipatti villages; Selvi (40) and Guruvammal (40) of Seelayampatti near Chinnamanur; and Jeep driver Suresh (30) of Thevaram.
The 108 ambulance team struggled hard to rescue the injured from the mangled remains of the jeep. The injured were rushed to the Theni Government Medical College Hospital near Gandamanur pass and Uthamapalayam GH. The two seriously injured were referred to the Madurai GRH.
The bodies were shifted to Government hospital at Uthamapalayam.
The accident took place when 14 workers were returning home in a jeep from cardamom estates in Kerala. The private bus was proceeding to Cumbum from Madurai. The police said the jeep collided with the bus when it tried to avoid a motor cycle.
