Two killed as bus overturns near Tirupati

The toppled bus which hit a culvert on the Puthalapattu-Naidupeta highway on Sunday.   | Photo Credit: K_V_PoornachandraKumar

10 others were injured; the SETC bus was proceeding from Salem

TIRUPATI

Two persons were killed and 10 others injured as a State Express Transport Corporation bus overturned on the Puthalapattu-Naidupeta highway near Pathakalva area of Tirupati rural mandal here early Sunday.

According to sources, the bus bound for Tirupati from Salem rammed a culvert and toppled into a nearby ditch.

The driver and a passenger died instantly while others sustained grievous injuries. Passers-by rescued some of the victims and informed the police, who subsequently made arrangements to shift them to Ruia Hospital.

The deceased have been identified as Arunachalam (bus driver) and Sundararajan.

Police suspect that the driver must have fallen asleep at the wheel or could have been over-speeding. The police are investigating and further details are yet to be ascertained.