In a gory accident, five passengers who were travelling in an omni-van from Nagal Nagar in Dindigul to Kariapatti in Virudhunagar district were killed on the spot when the vehicle was hit be a private bus at Sambakulam Vilakku on the Uthangudi-Kappalur Ring Road in Tirunagar police station limits on Monday.
Madurai Rural Police identified the deceased as Natarajan (62), Aruljothi (60), Suresh Kumar (32), Narayanasami (72) and Ramalingam (40). The impact of the collision was so huge that the five passengers died on the spot. One person suffered multiple injuries and his condition is said to be critical. Though the exact reason for the accident is under investigation, according to an eyewitness account, the driver of the private bus was at fault.
He came on the wrong side taking the van driver by surprise. Rash and negligent driving resulted in the bus pushing the van with such a force that it smashed against a roadside tree after which the two vehicles came to a grinding halt.
The front portion of the van was completely damaged in the impact.
On information at around 7.45 a.m., the ‘108' ambulance van rushed to the spot and moved the injured person for treatment and the bodies for post-mortem to Government Rajaji Hospital.
The Tirunagar police are investigating. Fire and Rescue Services personnel had a tough time in pulling the van out and had to use crowbar, only after which a body of an aged man was taken out.
Vehicular movement on the stretch was stopped for a while. After removing the bodies, the traffic resumed, a senior police officer said.
Only about 10 days ago, a passenger van carrying 10 persons proceeding from Theni to Virudhunagar fell into a roadside well at Nakkalakottai near Tirumangalam and claimed 10 lives, including that of three children and four women.
