According to the police, the bus carrying 70 passengers was heading towards Kothagiri from Kadasholai when the accident occurred around 8 am. The bus was driven by Eswaran (48). 

Near Warwick area, the driver brought the bus to a sudden halt to avoid hitting a speeding two-wheeler, which was coming from the opposite direction. Meanwhile, a van approaching from behind rammed the bus. 

In the impact, van driver Nagaraj (41) and around 25 passengers including two children, aged 13 and 11, were severely injured. All the injured persons were rescued and rushed to Kothagiri government hospital. 

According to the police, the passengers of the tourist van were earlier travelling from Kodanad to Kothagiri in a government bus, which developed a breakdown midway. Thereafter, they had to board the tourist van, said police.

The Kothagiri police have registered a case in this connection and further enquiry is on. Traffic was disrupted on the hill stretch for a while due to the accident.