A devastating head-on collision involving two Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) buses in the Sivaganga district on Sunday evening claimed the lives of 11 people and left over 50 others injured.
The accident, which occurred near Vivekananda Polytechnic College on the Thirupattur-Karaikudi road, has drawn immediate state attention and renewed focus on road safety in Tamil Nadu. The total number of injured is reported to be over 50, with 33 admitted as in-patients and others discharged after first aid.
Details of the Accident and Investigation
The collision occurred around 5:00 PM near Thirupathur.
- Fatalities and Injuries: Eight people, including one of the bus drivers, died instantly at the scene. Three more grievously injured passengers succumbed at a hospital in Thirupathur, bringing the total death toll to 11. Initial reports indicate that nine of the deceased were women.
- Bus Routes: The two TNSTC buses involved were travelling on different routes: one was reportedly heading from Kangeyam to Karaikudi, and the other was operating on the Karaikudi-Dindigul route.
- Cause Under Investigation: Police have registered a case with the Natchiyapuram police station. While a police officer initially stated, “It was a head-on collision, the reason is not clear, we are looking into it,” preliminary reports from investigators suggest one of the bus drivers swerved suddenly to avoid hitting a woman crossing the state highway, causing the bus to ram into the incoming vehicle on the opposite side. Police are also examining high speed and driver fatigue as potential contributing factors.
- Victim Identification: While police initially did not reveal the identities of all victims, later reports confirmed the deceased include the driver, P. Sendrayan (36), and nine women, including S. Muthumari (60), R. Kalpana (36), V. Mallika (61), and D. Gunalakshmi (55), among others.
- Rescue Efforts: The sheer force of the collision left both buses completely mangled, trapping several passengers inside. Local residents, alongside police and Fire and Rescue Services personnel, rushed to the spot to extricate the victims. The injured were transported to Government Hospitals in Thirupathur, Karaikudi, Sivaganga, and Madurai.
CM Stalin Announces Compensation
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed his profound shock and grief over the tragic loss of lives. He immediately contacted the District Collector and the District In-Charge Minister, K. R. Periyakaruppan, instructing them to oversee the rescue and ensure the injured received high-quality medical treatment.
The Chief Minister announced an ex gratia compensation for the victims and their families:
- ₹3 lakh each to the families of the deceased victims.
- ₹1 lakh each to those who sustained severe injuries.
- ₹50,000 each to people who suffered minor injuries.
Second Major Accident in a Week
This tragedy marks the second major fatal road accident in Tamil Nadu in less than a week, underscoring severe road safety concerns in the state:
- Previous Incident: On November 24, at least seven people died and over 30 were injured when two private buses collided head-on near Duraisamypuram in the Tenkasi district.