Class 11 student dies, 54 hurt as bus plunges into pit

The TNSTC bus was plying between Aanthakudi and Nagapattinam and was reportedly carrying more number of passengers than permitted. Around 7.30 am when it reached the Poravaacheri stretch, the driver G Stalin (41) from Marungoor steered the bus slightly to the left of the road in order to give way for another vehicle coming on the opposite side. But the driver lost control and the bus toppled and fell onto a pit. Those passengers travelling on the foot-board of the bus got trapped beneath the vehicle. In the impact, T Aakash (16) from Sikkal who is studying in Class 11 in a private school was crushed to death on the spot. 

Soon, the onlookers and local residents rescued the injured passengers. They were rushed to the Nagapattinam Government Hospital and Tiruvarur GH.  On information, state Handlooms and Textiles Minister OS Manian, MLAs M Thamimun Ansari, U Mathivanan, Collector S Palanisami visited the Nagapattinam GH and consoled the victims. Traffic on the National Highways 67 was affectedly badly for nearly three hours due to the accident. 

Local residents said that the particular stretch is too narrow and there is no barricade and most of the times, the buses use to ply at high speed. Meanwhile, the passengers said that they had to take the particular bus as they have only two buses operated in the section and every day, the buses use to be over crowded.