A devastating road accident on the busy Chennai-Trichy national highway resulted in the death of nine individuals and left at least ten others injured on Wednesday evening. The tragic collision occurred near Ezhuthur, close to Thittakudi in Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore district.
Sequence of a Tragedy: How the Accident Unfolded
The incident took place around 7:30 pm when a State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) bus, travelling from Madurai to Chennai, suffered a catastrophic tyre burst. The driver lost control of the vehicle due to the sudden blowout.
The out-of-control bus mounted a low road median, crossed over into the opposing lane, and violently collided with two cars coming from the opposite direction. Both cars were on their way from Chennai to Trichy when the bus rammed into them.
Immediate Aftermath and Rescue Operations
All nine fatalities were occupants of the two private cars that bore the brunt of the impact. The injured included passengers from the cars as well as the bus. Police teams rushed to the spot immediately to begin rescue efforts.
The bodies were retrieved and sent for postmortem examination, while the injured were quickly transported to nearby hospitals for urgent medical treatment. The severe crash and subsequent rescue work led to a major traffic disruption, blocking the crucial Chennai-Trichy highway for nearly an hour.
Official Response and Compensation Announced
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed his deep sorrow over the incident and announced financial aid for the victims' families. The state government will provide Rs 3 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh each for those injured.
Police authorities confirmed they are in the process of formally identifying the deceased. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami also expressed his condolences and urged the state government to ensure the compensation reaches the affected families without delay.
