Four passengers die as tipper lorry crashes into bus near Tiruttani

Four persons died and 28 others sustained injuries when a tipper lorry collided with a government bus near Beera Kuppam K.G. Kandigai village near Tiruttani, Tiruvallur district, on Friday.

The government bus was heading to Tiruttani from Srikalikapuram when a speeding lorry coming from the opposite direction rammed the bus, crashed into one of its sides. In the impact, four passengers died on the spot, while 28 others (15 men and 13 women) sustained injuries. The Tiruttani police rushed the injured persons to a government general hospital nearby. Those who were in a critical condition were referred to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital.

The deceased have been identified as S. Pandurangan, 60, S. Sivanandam, 53, K. Magesh, 40, and P. Murali, 38, of Ammaiyarkuppam. Their bodies were sent for post-mortem.

Meanwhile, police sources said they suspect the lorry driver to have been in an inebriated condition, and was also talking on the phone while driving the vehicle. The police have launched a hunt to nab the driver, who is absconding.

Stalin announces solatium

In a condolence message, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, in a message, announced ₹3 lakh solatium each to the kin of the deceased, ₹1 lakh each to the critically injured, and ₹50,000 each to those who sustained minor injuries, from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.