KANNIYAKUMARI: Two welders died on the spot after an omnibus hit their motorcycle near Kumarakovil junction on the national highway at Thakkalai in Kanniyakumari district on Monday morning. Twenty-five passengers in the bus escaped unhurt, while one passenger sustained minor injuries.
The deceased were identified as Vijay (28), and Suresh Kumar (41), relatives from Painkulam–Mukkadu near Pudukadai in Kanniyakumari district. The two worked as welders and travelled daily to Nagercoil for work.
Police said the accident occurred around 8 am when the motorcycle was going towards Nagercoil.
An omnibus heading from Bengaluru to Thiruvananthapuram allegedly lost control, swerved across the road and crashed into the motorcycle, killing both riders on the spot.
There were 25 passengers, including women, in the bus at the time of the accident.
Passengers were rescued by Fire and Rescue Services personnel from Thakkalai, who broke the rear side window of the bus to evacuate them. A passenger, Abhishek (26), from Patna, sustained minor injuries to his hand while attempting to open the emergency exit.
Based on a complaint by Vijay’s father, Dennison, police arrested the bus driver, Shibin (36) from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala.
Police said the bus had left Bengaluru at 10.30 pm, and another driver drove it up to Sathur. Shibin allegedly took over from there. A case has been registered for rash and negligent driving.
Kanniyakumari Collector R Alagumeena and Superintendent of Police Stalin visited the accident site and conducted an inspection.