Eight persons were killed after a TNSTC bus careened off the road and plunged 100 feet into the Ketti valley between Coonoor and Udhagamandalam on Thursday morning. Nine others were seriously injured. The police said 34 passengers were on board the bus.
Police identified the deceased as Dharman, 64, from Davis Dale in Udhagamandalam; Dinesh, 32, from Coonoor; Nandhakumar, 36, and Prabhakaran, 50, from Kolakombai; Shanthakumari, 55, and Jaishree 49, from Bengaluru; and Almesh, 26, from Khandal in Udhagamandalam.
The Ketti police said that three women were among the deceased. One passenger, identified as Moorthy, 47, succumbed to his injuries in Coimbatore.
Police said the bus, driven by Rajkumar, 40, was headed to Coonoor from Udhagamandalam. The accident happened when the driver tried to overtake a vehicle.
The bus was completely destroyed in the accident and bodies were found strewn around in the wreckage. Locals rushed to the aid of passengers. Along with the police, they rescued the injured.
Of the 34 passengers, 27 suffered injuries and 19 were referred to the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH). The condition of Prakash, the conductor, is said to be critical. One of the victims, Almesh, 26, died en route to Coimbatore.
Police as well as emergency responders had a tough time in reaching the accident site due to heavy rain. Traffic from Coonoor to Udhagamandalam was diverted to Kotagiri. The stretch between the Valley View junction outside Udhagamandalam town to Yellanalli is dangerous as the road passes over the Ketti valley.
