9 killed as TNSTC bus, mini lorry collide in Thanjavur

It is said, when the TNSTC bus bound for Kumbakonam from Tiruchy was nearing Vallam over bridge branch road, the bus driver attempted to give way to an iron rod-laden mini lorry that was bound for Tiruchy from Thanjavur. 

Suddenly, the bus driver lost control and rammed into the mini lorry. Seven persons including drivers of both the mini lorry and TNSTC bus, were crushed to death on the spot, while 25 persons sustained injuries. The bus driver was identified as Ravichandran and the mini lorry driver as Sathish. On information, the Highway patrol police along with locals and Vallam police initiated rescue operations and sent the injured to Thanjavur Medical College Hospital. However, two persons died  despite treatment. 

Fifty-nine people on board a TNSTC bus had a narrow escape on Friday after their vehicle went up in flames near Ellispet village in Erode district. The bus was on its way to Sathyamangalam from Erode when some passengers noticed smoke and fire emanating from the engine and raised an alarm. The 57 passengers and two crew members quickly alighted from the bus. The blaze soon spread but fire service personnel doused it, police said. The cause of the fire is under investigation, police said.