The deceased were identified as Vimalraj (24), Arun Prathap (22), Gunasekar (23) and his brother Raja Sekar (22) of Irattiyappatti village in Mannapparai.

The four persons were reportedly riding back home after dining at a hotel at Kaikatti when the incident occurred.

While trying to cross the Madurai-Tiruchy national highway, the rider failed to notice the omnibus, which was approaching at a high speed from the opposite lane, since it was dark. 

Though the bus driver tried to the prevent the accident, the vehicle rammed the bike head-on. In the impact, all four riders were throw off the bike and the bike caught fire. On seeing the blaze on the highway, locals rushed to the spot and tried to rescue the victims. However, three of the victims died on the spot while the fourth one succumbed on the way to the hospital. 

The four bodies were kept in Manapparai government hospital for post-mortem examination. 

Viralimalai police filed a case in this connection and investigation is on. Police sources said that the accident occurred as the youths didn’t follow the traffic norms and four people rode on a single two-wheeler with none of them wearing a helmet.