Four persons were killed and six others injured after two cars crashed into a group of bystanders and two-wheelers along the Chennai-Krishnagiri National Highway in Kandikuppam around noon on Sunday. The deceased and the injured included pedestrians, a cyclist and two-wheeler riders, some of whom had been returning from a wedding.
Incensed by the accident, a section of the local population torched the two cars, and blocked the national highway for over two hours, leading to some tense moments.
According to eyewitness accounts, the two cars from Chennai were racing down the highway crossing at Kandikuppam when one of the cars overtook the other before crashing into bystanders and vehicle riders.
Vanaja, 35, of Mallapadi; Bharath Kumar, 17, of Kandikuppam; Gokul, 17, of Kandikuppan; and Dharman, 40, of Marudepalli village were killed on the spot. The two 17-year-olds were in their higher secondary class.
Ashwin, 21, one of the drivers, was driving a Bengaluru-registered car and Muniraj, 40, a Chennai resident, was driving the other car.
500-strong mob
Soon after the crash, a crowd of around 500 people, mostly locals from Kandikuppam, descended on the national highway in protest, resurrecting their long demand for a flyover in the area. The public outrage soon led to a blockade of the six-lane highway on both sides, hitting both Chennai and Bengaluru-bound traffic.
A police force led by the Superintendent of Police D. Maheshkumar resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the mob. In retaliation, the mob pelted a fire service vehicle with stones, and set ablaze two-wheelers.
Initially, the drivers of the two cars were believed to have abandoned the vehicles and fled the spot. However, the men were taken to a private hospital, said sources from Krishnagiri GH.
Solatium announced
Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has condoled the death of the four persons. In a statement, he said he had advised officials to ensure medical aid is provided to the injured. He also announced a solatium of ₹1 lakh to the families of the dead, ₹50,000 to those severely injured and ₹25,000 to those who suffered minor injuries.
