COIMBATORE: A chain of collisions near Tirupur's Uthukuli involving three buses on Sunday injured 20 passengers and triggered traffic disruption on a busy National Highway stretch.
According to the police, a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus travelling from Tirupur to Erode was proceeding along the Coimbatore-Salem National Highway when the accident occurred near Pallagoundenpalayam.
Officials said that a vehicle moving ahead of the TNSTC bus suddenly applied the brakes and came to an abrupt halt. The bus driver applied sudden brakes to avoid hitting the vehicle.
However, two other buses trailing the TNSTC bus were also unable to stop in time and collided with the other bus, resulting in a multi-vehicle accident. The TNSTC bus lost its balance on impact, veered off the road, and overturned along the roadside.
Passengers inside the bus screamed for help as residents, motorists, and passersby rushed to the spot and assisted in rescuing the injured.
Ambulances were alerted immediately, and all injured passengers were shifted to the Perundurai Government Hospital for treatment. Hospital sources said that the injuries were not life-threatening and the condition of the injured was stable.
The accident led to heavy traffic congestion on the national highway for several hours. The Uthukuli police reached the scene on information, used heavy machinery to remove the overturned bus, and restored vehicular movement. A case has been registered, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.