MADURAI: In a ghastly road accident, 16 construction workers, including nine women, were crushed to death when a private bus collided head on with a mini lorry near Madurai airport, on Friday. The the lorry driver was also killed. Five workers were seriously injured and admitted to a hospital.
Twenty-two construction workers from Virudhunagar were proceeding to Thondi in Ramanathapuram district in a Tata mini lorry. While the vehicle was passing Parambupatti near Madurai airport, a private bus heading towards Kovilpatti from Madurai lost its balance due to a tyre burst and collided head on with the lorry.
Fifteen workers and the lorry driver died on the spot, while another labourer died in the hospital.
Their mangled bodies were extricated by the police.
Balakrishnan, the bus driver who escaped from the spot, later surrendered at Thirumangalam police station.
Police said the workers were from Palavanam, Villur, Ayyanarpuram and Avalsuranpatti villages in the Virudhunagar district and being taken to a construction site at Thondi.
K K S S R Ramachandran, Minister for Backward Classes Welfare visited the spot and said that immediate steps would be taken to provide relief to the relatives of the deceased.
P Seetharaman, the District Collector and Balakrishnan, the Superintendent of Police also visited the accident site. Perungudi police have registered a case.
In a statement in Chennai on Friday, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi condoled the death of victims and announced a solatium of Rs 50,000 each to the families of the victims.