Five on way to Courtallam die as car hits private bus

Six persons including a Medical student from Kerala, were killed and many others were injured in two separate road accidents in Tirunelveli and Dindigul districts.

In the mishap that took place in Tirunelveli, five persons were killed and five others were injured, when a car collided head-on with a private bus near Parayan Kulakarai on Pathamadai main road in Tirunelveli district on Sunday night.

According to police sources, in the accident that occurred at around 10.30 pm, the five people who were travelling in the car died on the spot. Of the passengers in the bus, five people suffered injuries and were immediately rushed to the Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital for treatment, they added.

The deceased were on their way to Courtallam in a car after picking Mariappan, one of the deceased, from Mela Munneerpallam in Tirunelveli district.

The other victims were identified as Madasamy (42), Maria Antony (47). Nicholas (40), Xavier (44), residents of Thoothukudi.

The injured were traveling in a private bus from Papanasam to Tirunelveli when the accident occurred.

Among the injured, four victims received treatment as out patients while one victim is undergoing further treatment, sources said.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that reckless driving by the car driver under the influence of liquor have caused the accident. Further investigation was on.

Meanwhile in Dindigul district, one passenger was killed and twenty others were injured after a private omni bus, in which they were traveling, toppled and hit an iron rod in toll gate. The mishap occurred near Kodai Road toll gate on Madurai –Dindigul bypass road at 5.15 am, according to R Lavanya, Ammainaickanur Inspector of Police.

The deceased was identified as Maria Jose (26), post graduate medical student and resident of Chalakudy, Kerala. Among the injured 18 were men and two others were women. While seven injured victims were admitted to Dindigul Government Hospital, 13 others are receiving treatment at a private hospital in Dindigul, the Inspector said. The condition of the injured is said to be stable. The bus from Ernakulam in Kerala, was bound to reach Madurai on Monday morning. The accident could have been because the driver had dozed off and lost control of the bus, sources said. Ammainaickanur police have filed a case in connection with the accident and inquiries are on.