4 killed, 44 hurt as buses collide near Thanjai

It is said, while a private bus that was bound from Tiruvarur to Thanjavur was crossing Pallavarayanpettai village near Ammapettai in Nagappattinam-Thanjavur road on Monday afternoon, the driver reportedly attempted to overtake a motorcycle and negotiated a curve and collided with a TNSTC bus that was proceeding towards Nagapattinam from Tiruchy.  

Both the buses were badly damaged and the passengers were trapped inside. Fire personnel from Needamangalam rushed to the spot and commenced rescue operations. More than 10 ambulances were roped in to rescue the injured passengers who were taken to the Thanjavur Medical college. 

However, M Raja (44) of Needamangalam, the driver of the private bus, P Muruganandam, Ukkadai Seethakkamangalam of Kudavasl, the driver of Government bus died on the spot. R Vijayalakshmi (60) of Tirukkannamangai and another unidentified woman aged 45 were declared brought dead at Thanjavur Medical College Hospital. 

As many as 44 persons, including 19 women and a child, were injured in the accident. The Ammapettai police have registered a case.  Meanwhile, A Annadurai, District collector, T Senthilkumar, Superintendent of Police, visited the injured in the hospital.