Death toll likely to rise; eleven people killed in Sivaganga district after two government buses collide head-on

CHENNAI: A collision between two government buses in Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu, has killed eleven people and injured many others who are receiving intensive treatment. The accident occurred on the Tirupattur-Karaikudi road near the Kummangudi bridge when the two buses, one travelling from Tirupattur to Karaikudi (registration number TN 39 N 0198) and the other from Karaikudi to Dindigul (TN 63 N 1776), collided head-on.

Local residents and passers-by were the first to arrive and help rescue the injured passengers before emergency teams (police, fire services, and ambulances) arrived at the spot. Injured victims were rushed to nearby hospitals, including the Sivaganga District Hospital. Eight people including the driver died on the spot, while three people who were seriously injured died at the Tirupattur government hospital.

The death toll in the accident is 11, including nine women. More than 40 others were injured and are receiving treatment at Tirupattur, Madurai and Karaikudi government hospitals. Doctors have said that many more were seriously injured and the death toll may increase. Bystanders said that many passengers in the buses were thrown to both sides of the road due to the impact of the collision. As some passengers were trapped inside the bus, rescue teams used cutting tools to pull them out.

Cranes were used to remove the buses that were severely damaged in the accident. The accident caused a long traffic jam in the area. Police diverted vehicles to alternate routes to control traffic.