Tirupur: Two were killed and about 30 passengers were injured after a state-run bus plunged into a 15-feet water canal at Avinashi in the district on Sunday.
The police identified the deceased as Kanagaraj, 55, of Vadugampalayam and Sundarappan, 70, of Thandukaranpalayam. The injured were taken to the Avinashi government hospital. Of them six people who suffered major injuries were moved to the Coimbatore government hospital.
The TNSTC bus plying between Avinashi and Annur through Karumathampatti left Avinashi new bus stand around 1pm on Sunday. When the vehicle, which was carrying about 65 passengers, was near Attaiyampalayam junction, an unidentified elderly person tried to cross the road.
"The man came over the median and tried to cross the road. On seeing the bus he ran back to the median. Meanwhile, the bus driver, who saw the elderly man, steered the bus to avoid hitting him. Unfortunately, the driver lost control of the vehicle and fell into the water canal that carry water to Thamaraikulam from Nallaru River," said a police officer.
The bus turned over injuring both the driver and the conductor. The passersby informed the Avinashi police and fire and rescue services personnel.
As the Avinashi Fire and Rescue Services team was engaged in duty at MGR centenary celebrations in Coimbatore, Tirupur South Fire and Rescue services team was assigned for the rescue. But before the team could reach, the police and local people had rescued the passengers and sent them to the hospital, said a fire and rescue services official.
"As the bus was going at a moderate speed, the accident did not cause much casualties. The two passengers who have lost their lives were not seriously injured. They might have died due a shock. Further the driver might have lost control as the number of passengers in the bus was above its capacity," said a senior police official.
Due to the accident, the traffic on Avinashi-Annur Road was affected for more than an hour. The bodies of the deceased were handed over to their kin after the postmortem. The Avinashi police have registered the case and investigating further.
The police identified the deceased as Kanagaraj, 55, of Vadugampalayam and Sundarappan, 70, of Thandukaranpalayam. The injured were taken to the Avinashi government hospital. Of them six people who suffered major injuries were moved to the Coimbatore government hospital.
The TNSTC bus plying between Avinashi and Annur through Karumathampatti left Avinashi new bus stand around 1pm on Sunday. When the vehicle, which was carrying about 65 passengers, was near Attaiyampalayam junction, an unidentified elderly person tried to cross the road.
"The man came over the median and tried to cross the road. On seeing the bus he ran back to the median. Meanwhile, the bus driver, who saw the elderly man, steered the bus to avoid hitting him. Unfortunately, the driver lost control of the vehicle and fell into the water canal that carry water to Thamaraikulam from Nallaru River," said a police officer.
The bus turned over injuring both the driver and the conductor. The passersby informed the Avinashi police and fire and rescue services personnel.
As the Avinashi Fire and Rescue Services team was engaged in duty at MGR centenary celebrations in Coimbatore, Tirupur South Fire and Rescue services team was assigned for the rescue. But before the team could reach, the police and local people had rescued the passengers and sent them to the hospital, said a fire and rescue services official.
"As the bus was going at a moderate speed, the accident did not cause much casualties. The two passengers who have lost their lives were not seriously injured. They might have died due a shock. Further the driver might have lost control as the number of passengers in the bus was above its capacity," said a senior police official.
Due to the accident, the traffic on Avinashi-Annur Road was affected for more than an hour. The bodies of the deceased were handed over to their kin after the postmortem. The Avinashi police have registered the case and investigating further.
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