Fourteen persons, including three children, were killed and 33 others injured in an accident involving a government bus and a private bus on the Tiruchi – Madurai national highway on Monday.
The government town bus was proceeding to Manapparai from Ilupur when it collided head-on with the Thiruvananthapuram-bound private omni bus from Velankanni. Police sources said among those who died eight were women.The injured, including 21 women, were admitted to the Government Hospital, Manapparai; Annal Gandhi Memorial Government Headquarters Hospital, Tiruchi and a private hospital in the city.
The drivers of both the vehicles were killed in the accident which occurred at around 12.50 p.m.
The sources said the government bus was plying on the wrong side of the highway.
Barring the private bus driver, the others who died travelled in the government bus.
A team of doctors from different places rushed to Manapparai to conduct post-mortem and to provide treatment to the injured. The Valanadu Police have registered a case.
Solatium announced
Condoling the death of passengers in the bus accident Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announced a solatium of Rs. 1 lakh each to the family members of the dead from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund.
The Chief Minister announced that a sum of Rs.15,000 for each of the seriously injured will be given and Rs. 6,000 each for those admitted with minor injuries.
