TIRUPUR: Two passengers died after a government bus plying between Tirupur and Annur toppled from a bridge near Avinashi, killing two passengers on Sunday afternoon. Over 30 others were injured and admitted to Avinashi and Coimbatore government hospitals for treatment.
According to police sources, the Tirupur-Annur bus was crossing Aatayampalayam Navagiri Mahal on the Avinashi-Coimbatore Main Road around 1 pm. While crossing the bridge, the driver lost control and drove the bus into a 20-ft-deep pit. Two passengers — V Kanagaraj ( 55) of Thekkalur and A Sundarappan (70) of Thanneerpandhalpalayam — lost their life in the accident.
The injured passengers were said to be safe and recovering well. Most of them were sent home after treatment.
The bus had been moving slowly. Hence, there were fewer casualties, informed a police official. He said the driver’s wrong judgement and the bus being overcrowded were the reasons for the accident.
Driver O Ponnusamy (55) was said to be a man with great experience, having worked on the same route for nearly seven years. He too was injured in the accident, but was in a stable condition.
The public claimed that the bridge was an accident-prone zone, witnessing several mishaps over the years. Lack of protective railings on both sides of the bridge could have been the major reason for the accident, they suggested. Avinashi police have filed a case.