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NT Bureau
Puducherry, May 30:
 

ANGER AFTER DANGER: Irate locals blocking the traffic after the accident near Puducherry in which four persons were killed.

        Four people travelling on the footboard of a private bus were killed when the vehicle tried to overtake a sand-laden truck at Thavalakuppam near here this morning. Also, three persons were killed when the motorcycle in which they were riding collided with a stationary lorry at Perugamani, near Tiruchi, in the wee hours of today.

        The private bus fully loaded with commuters was moving from Baagur, five km from Cuddalore, to Puducherry. The bus was teeming with passengers, some of whom were standing at the footboards. When it reached Thavalakuppam, the bus tried to overtake a sand lorry resulting in the two vehicles brushing past each other at great speed. Those travelling on the footboard near the front wheel fell down and three persons - Anbazhagan, 26, Angappan, 37, Kaartheepan, 38, all hailing from Periya Kaatupalayam; and Nagaraj, 35 from Sivanaarpuram - were crushed to death by the back wheels of the bus.

        Four commuters who sustained injuries were rushed to the Puducherry Government Hospital. One of the admitted persons died without responding to treatment at the hospital. Another injured Balu, 26, who got admitted to the hospital, was in a serious condition, according to sources. Two more persons, Arunraj, studying in nurse college, and Subramani were being treated by the doctors.

        Thavalakuppam Police have registered a case and have begun their investigation. The road tragedy spread like fire and the villagers in and around Periya Kaatupalayam got together and blocked the highway. They demanded strict action against private bus operators who wantonly disregard traffic norms and ply their services in high speed. Hearing the road roko by villagers, police team from Reddichavadi Station rushed to the spot and pacified the angry villagers. After the assurance from the police that strong action would be taken against the errant bus operator, the agitators dispersed peacefully. The traffic on the highway was disrupted for a few hours due to the accident.

        3 killed near Tiruchi

        Three persons were killed when their two-wheeler rammed into a parcel truck stationed on a roadside at Perugamani, near Tiruchi, in the wee hours of today. Both the vehicles were travelling in the same direction on the Tiruchi - Coimbatore highway. All the three killed were in lungis and their identity was not known. Their bodies were sent to Tiruchi Government Hospital for postmortem.