DHARMAPURI/ VIRUDHUNAGAR/ TIRUPUR: In a spate of accidents across the state 11 persons were killed in different districts on Tuesday.
In the first accident in Dharmapuri three persons died on the spot after two bikes collided with each other at Madam near Hogenekkal and a relative of one of the victims, on his way on a bike to the accident spot, was fatally knocked down by a car on Tuesday.
According to police, Sakkarai (30) and his friend Krishnan (35) of Manjanayakanahalli, were riding on a bike to Melmaruvathur temple from their locality. Meanwhile, a group of three, Mayakannan (23), Murali (22) and Tamil (20), all residents of Errapatti, were going to Hogennakkal on a bike. While nearing Madam near Hogennakkal, both bikes collided killing three on the spot, police said.
The dead were identified as Sakkarai and Krishnan of Manjanayakanahalli and Mayakannan and Murali of Errapatti. Tamil escaped with serious injuries, police added. On hearing the news of the death for the duo from Manjanayakanahalli, Munusamy (40) a relative of Sakkarai was on his way in a two wheeler to the accident spot, was allegedly fatally knocked down by a car. Police are investigating both accidents.
Meanwhile, in Virudhunagar, three devotees were killed and five more were injured, all belonging to a same family, after the car in which they were returning to their home in Thoothukudi after visiting Tirunallar temple collided with a lorry on Madurai-Kanyakumari highway near RR Nagar in the district during the early hours on Tuesday.
Police said, Ponraj (40) a resident of Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi, along with his family had gone in a car to Tirunallar temple to worship Lord Saneeswarar on December. After having darshan, they started the return journey on Monday night.
While passing through the four-lane stretch near RR Nagar the car rammed a stationary lorry on the roadside killing Ponraj, his wife Priya (26) and his two-month-old daughter Balavisaliya on the spot. Ponraj’s relatives Lakshmi (41), Muthukumaran (16), Muthusowmya (61) who sustained serious injuries were admitted at a private hospital at Sattur while Prithivi Thangam (10), Saravanan (44) were referred to a private hospital at Madurai. Vachakarapatti police registered a case and arrested the lorry driver Gnanavel (30) of Tirunelveli.
In yet another accident, three persons were killed and 11 others were injured after the van in which they were travelling overturned near Vellakovil in Tirupur on Monday.
According to police, a group from a place near Vellakovil was going in a van. While passing through Kurukatti, the drive lost control and the vehicle overturned killing three inmates on the spot and injuring 11 others.
The injured were rushed to Kangeyam GH. Later they were referred to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for treatment. Vellakovil police registered a case and are investigating.
Young couple Knocked down by Bus
Salem: A newly-married couple killed in an accident involving a bus and a motorbike on Military Road here on Monday night. According to police, Mohan (32), a resident of Ramana nagar near Ponnammapet and a civil engineer in New Delhi Metro Train project got married to Kavitha (24) and a month ago. On Monday evening, the couple went to a temple on a bike and were proceeding to Kavitha’s mother’s house at Ammapet. While passing through Military Road around 9.30 pm, a Salem-bound government bus knocked them down and both sustained serious injuries. Though locals rushed them to Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital, they died on the way. Police registered a case and are investigating.