Four Dead, 30 Injured as Lorry Rams into Govt Bus Near Thiruthani

Thiruthani, Mar 8: In a tragic accident near Thiruthani, four passengers from the same village lost their lives after a speeding lorry collided with a government bus. The crash left 30 others, including two children, severely injured, with several suffering limb amputations. The accident occurred when a government bus, route number T48, departed from Mahankalikapuram near R.K. Pet in Tiruvallur district, heading towards Thiruthani. The bus was driven by temporary driver Jaganathan (45) from Balapuram, with Srinivasan (45) as the conductor. At the Ammaiyarkuppam bus stop, 35 men and five women boarded the bus. As it approached a petrol bunk near K.G. Kandigai, a speeding Taurus lorry coming from Thiruthani towards R.K. Pet rammed into the bus at high velocity. The impact was devastating—passengers were thrown off their seats, crashing into window bars and metal railings. The bus was completely wrecked, resembling a crumpled sheet. Casualties and Rescue Efforts The crash claimed the lives of four individuals on the spot: Murali (38) Mahesh (40) Sivanandham (50) Pandurangan (60) All were residents of Ammaiyarkuppam village. Hearing the desperate cries of the injured, employees from the nearby petrol bunk and passersby rushed to rescue those trapped inside the mangled bus. A team of over 30 police personnel, led by Thiruthani DSP Kandan and Inspector Madhiyarasan, arrived with two excavators to speed up the rescue operations. Severe Injuries Reported A total of 30 passengers, including 15 women, 13 men, and two children, sustained serious injuries. Among them, 14 passengers suffered bone fractures, while some had their legs amputated due to the severity of the crash. The bus conductor was critically injured, while the driver escaped with minor wounds. The incident has left the local community in shock, highlighting concerns over reckless driving and road safety. Authorities are investigating the circumstances leading to the tragic accident.