CHENNAI: Two persons, one a Tamil Nadu Electricity Board assistant engineer, were killed and three women seriously injured in a road accident caused by stray cattle, near Guduvanchery on Friday night.

According to police, a private company van was travelling at a high speed on the Mannivakkam-Adhanur Road, which connects the Vandalur–Walajabad Road and the Guduvanchery–Madambakkam Road. Two bulls that were fighting suddenly ran across the road near Adhanur. The van hit the animals and rammed an oncoming load auto and two motorcycles.

Rajkumar (52), an assistant engineer working at the electricity board office in Adyar, was riding home with his daughter Sandhiya. He died on the spot, while his daughter sustained serious injuries and is under treatment at a private hospital in Potheri.

The other victim Venkatesan (58) of Madambakkam was riding with his wife Savitha (48) as pillion. Venkatesan died instantly, his wife has been admitted to a private hospital in Potheri with serious injuries. A pedestrian, identified as Maithili, was also hit by the van. She is under treatment at the Tambaram Government Hospital.

The two bulls involved in the accident died on the spot.

Manimangalam police rushed to the scene, shifted the injured to hospitals and sent the bodies of the deceased for post-mortem at the Tambaram Government Hospital. A case has been registered, and an investigation is under way.

Residents of Chennai’s suburban areas said accidents caused by stray cattle and street dogs roaming on roads at night were increasing and urged local body authorities and the police to take stringent action to prevent further loss of lives.