A major road accident involving a private bus and a motorcycle resulted in both vehicles being engulfed in flames on National Highway 77 (NH-77) near Uthangarai in Krishnagiri district on Friday. The incident left two individuals with severe injuries, while a swift evacuation ensured the safety of all bus passengers.
Sequence of Events on the National Highway
The collision occurred when a private bus, carrying 23 employees from Kottukarampatti to a company in Pochampalli SIPCOT, was proceeding near Mittapalli. According to the preliminary police investigation, a car travelling from Tiruvannamalai towards Bengaluru suddenly attempted to overtake the bus. In a critical manoeuvre to avoid hitting the car, the bus driver, identified as Madeswaran, 51, lost control and rammed into a two-wheeler.
The impact was so severe that both the bus and the motorcycle immediately caught fire and were completely gutted. The biker, Dhanush, 25, a resident of Kallakurichi district, suffered serious injuries alongside the bus driver.
Rescue Operations and Injuries
Despite the terrifying scene, all 23 passengers on board the bus were promptly and successfully evacuated, preventing a greater tragedy. The injured driver and biker were rushed to a government hospital for urgent medical treatment.
The occupants of the car that triggered the chain of events also sustained minor injuries. They have been identified as Praveen, 31, from Thiruvannamalai district, his parents Sujatha, 49, and Venkatesan, 61, and a three-year-old relative, Riyashree.
Fire and rescue personnel from the Uthangarai station rushed to the spot and managed to extinguish the blazing vehicles. The incident caused significant disruption on the busy national highway, forcing authorities to divert traffic to alternative routes for several hours.
Police Investigation and Aftermath
The Uthangarai police have registered a case and are conducting a detailed investigation into the circumstances leading to the collision. The incident has once again highlighted the dangers of reckless overtaking on high-speed corridors like NH-77.
While the quick evacuation of passengers averted a higher casualty count, the severe injuries to the two primary victims and the total destruction of the vehicles underscore the devastating consequences of such accidents. The police are analyzing all factors, including driver error and road conditions, as part of their probe.
