Two separate and tragic road accidents on Chennai's busy East Coast Road (ECR) early Monday morning resulted in the death of two women and left fifteen others with serious injuries. The incidents, occurring within hours of each other in the Chengalpet district, have once again highlighted grave concerns over road safety, especially during adverse weather conditions.
Head-On Collision Claims Two Lives Near Kalpakkam
The first and more fatal accident took place at Kunnathur near Kalpakkam. A van, which was transporting fifteen women employees to a private factory, was traveling at high speed when it collided head-on with a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus. The bus was on its regular route from Chennai to Puducherry.
The impact of the crash was devastating. Two women, identified as Ammulu (24) and Uma (40), both residents of Koovathur, were killed on the spot. Seven other passengers in the van sustained severe injuries, with one reported to be in a critical condition immediately following the accident. Officials from the Satras police station swiftly responded, shifting all the injured to the Chengalpet District Government Medical College Hospital for urgent treatment.
Speeding Bus Overturns in Cyclonic Weather Near Mamallapuram
Just a few hours later, another serious accident unfolded near Manamai village close to the historic town of Mamallapuram. An air-conditioned bus traveling from Puducherry to Chennai overturned amid heavy rain and strong winds, conditions triggered by Cyclone Ditwah.
Preliminary investigations by the Mamallapuram police indicate that the driver lost control of the speeding vehicle due to slippery roads. This caused the bus to skid and topple over. Eight passengers, comprising four women and four men, suffered serious injuries in this rollover. They were also admitted to the same Chengalpet District Government Medical College Hospital. Police are probing whether overspeeding and poor visibility due to the cyclonic weather were primary contributors to the crash.
Compensation Announced and Driver Booked
In total, fifteen injured individuals from both accidents are receiving treatment at the government hospital, with authorities stating their conditions are now stable. The driver of the SETC bus involved in the first accident, Alex (37), has been officially booked for rash driving, and further investigation into both incidents is ongoing.
Expressing profound grief over the loss of life, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin announced financial compensation for the victims and their families. The next of kin of each deceased person will receive ex-gratia of ₹3 lakh. Those who suffered severe injuries will be given ₹1 lakh, and individuals with minor injuries will receive ₹50,000. The Chief Minister has instructed officials to ensure the speedy disbursement of this compensation aid.
These back-to-back accidents on a major coastal highway have sparked urgent calls for enhanced safety measures, stricter enforcement of speed limits, and greater caution during inclement weather to prevent such heartbreaking tragedies in the future.
