Immediately after the mishap, members of the public and the police rushed to the spot and helped the injured reach a hospital.
Published Jun 19, 2023 | 6:03 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 19, 2023 | 6:03 PM
Accident in Cuddalore kills four. (Screengrab)
The toll in the road accident involving two private buses in Cuddalore district on Monday, 19 June, rose to four and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced a solatium of ₹2 lakh each to the families who lost their kin in the collision.
The front portions of the two vehicles were completely damaged in the accident that took place at Melpattampakkam in Panruti, Cuddalore district.
According to the police, the initial reports indicated that the front right tyre of the Cuddalore-bound bus burst at Melpattampakkam and the driver lost control of the vehicle, which collided head-on with another private bus coming from the opposite direction and headed to Tiruvannamalai.
A few passengers were thrown off their seats due to the impact of the collision. Immediately after the mishap, members of the public and police rushed to the spot and helped the injured reach a hospital.
The driver of the Cuddalore-bound bus, Angalamani, the driver of the Tiruvannamalai-bound bus, Murugan, and two passengers died and nearly 28 persons were injured, said the police.
Expressing anguish over the accident in the Nellikuppam police limits, the chief minister said he was saddened to hear the news of the death of four persons.
“As soon as I heard about the accident, I contacted the district collector over the phone and asked him to visit the spot and take necessary steps to ensure medicare to the injured,” the chief minister said in a release.
He also directed Agriculture Minister MRK Panneerselvam and Labour Minister CV Ganesan to visit the hospital in person and make sure special treatment was provided to the injured.
“I express my deepest condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families and friends,” the chief minister said and directed the officials to pay ₹2 lakh to the families of the deceased from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund, ₹50,000 to the grievously injured, and ₹25,000 to those who sustained minor injuries in the accident.
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