CUDDALORE: Nine people were crushed to death on the National Highway near Ramanatham in Cuddalore after a State Express Transport Corporation bus, which went out of control after its front tyre burst, rammed into two cars on Wednesday night.
The police have not yet identified the victims, as the three people who survived the accident are battling for life, and have instead started inquiries based on the registration numbers of the two cars. The bus that was heading from Madurai to Chennai was near Eluthur when the incident happened around 7.15 pm.
According to officials, the driver lost control of the vehicle after its front tyre burst, and the bus swerved and jumped the median to the opposite lane from Chennai to Tiruchy. It hit two cars that were proceeding from Chennai to Tiruchy before toppling into a ditch on the road margin.
Seven people on the two cars were crushed to death on the spot, while five passengers who sustained severe injuries were rushed to Perambalur Government Hospital, where a child and an elderly person died without responding to treatment, taking the toll to nine.
Doctors said three others are undergoing intensive treatment. Police said they could not immediately identify the deceased, as three survivors were in critical condition. However, based on the vehicle registration numbers, police said the cars were from Karur and Tiruchy. They added that the
victims were likely returning to their hometowns for the Christmas holidays when the accident occurred.