CHENNAI: Two persons were killed, and three others sustained critical injuries in a chain-reaction road accident involving a motorcycle, a luxury bus, a car and a tempo van on the Aiyyur Agaram railway overpass in Villupuram district on Tuesday, police said.

According to investigators, the accident happened when a motorcycle travelling across the railway overpass reportedly went out of control. The rider is believed to have lost balance, causing the two-wheeler to veer into the opposite lane and collide head-on with an oncoming luxury bus.

The force of the impact compelled the bus driver to apply the brakes suddenly in an attempt to avoid further damage. However, the abrupt halt triggered a chain collision as a car and a tempo van travelling behind were unable to stop in time and crashed into the vehicles ahead.

The impact left multiple vehicles badly damaged and several occupants trapped inside. The motorcycle rider, identified as Boopathy, a native of Narasingapuram in Villupuram district, died on the spot.

John Anbazhagan (55), a resident of Mudichur in Chennai who was travelling in the car, also succumbed to his injuries at the accident site before medical assistance could reach him. On receiving information, personnel from the Villupuram police station, assisted by local residents, rushed to the scene and launched rescue operations.

Those trapped inside the mangled vehicles were extricated and shifted to safety before emergency medical teams arrived. Three injured persons, identified as Lazar, Solomon and Balaji, the driver of the car, were rushed to the Villupuram Government General Hospital.

Hospital sources said all three sustained serious injuries and remain under intensive medical care. Their condition is reported to be critical. The accident led to heavy traffic congestion on the railway overpass, with vehicle movement disrupted for a considerable period.

Police regulated traffic while cranes were deployed to remove the damaged vehicles and clear the roadway. Normal traffic resumed only after the accident site was fully cleared. Villupuram police have registered a case and initiated a detailed investigation to determine the precise sequence of events leading to the collision. Officials said they are examining eyewitness accounts and other evidence to establish the exact cause of the fatal accident.