A tragic road accident in Cuddalore district late Wednesday evening claimed the lives of at least seven people when a government bus collided with two cars on a busy highway.
The accident occurred near Ezhuthur, close to Thittakudi, when the front tyre of a state-run bus travelling from Tiruchirappalli to Chennai suddenly burst. Losing control, the vehicle climbed over the central median and swerved into the opposite lane, striking a sports utility vehicle (SUV) and a car travelling in the other direction.
Police and emergency personnel rushed to the scene soon after the crash. All seven occupants of the two private vehicles were pronounced dead at the site of the collision.
Several others, including passengers of the bus and people in the impacted vehicles, sustained injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Local authorities are conducting an investigation into the exact circumstances leading up to the crash, with early reports indicating that the tyre burst was the primary cause of the bus losing control.
The incident has once again raised concerns about road safety on national highways and the need for regular vehicle maintenance to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
