Eight dead, 10 injured in major TNSTC bus accident on Coimbatore-Salem highway

COIMBATORE: Eight people, including a five-year-old girl and an 11-month-old infant, were killed after a TNSTC bus crashed head-on into vehicles near Ariyanoor village in Salem on Friday afternoon.

The deceased were identified as Selvaraj, 52; Manikandan, 21; Irusaayi, 38; Nithiska, 5; Jeevika, 11 months; Amutha; Murugan; and Sathya, wife of Manikandan. Ten others were injured and admitted to hospital for treatment.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus, travelling from Coimbatore to Salem, veered off its lane near Ariyanoor village after the driver lost control. The vehicle jumped the centre median and crashed head-on into vehicles travelling in the opposite direction.

The bus collided with a goods auto in which more than 10 people were returning from a function. The accident claimed eight lives, while several others sustained critical injuries. Five of the victims were reportedly members of the same family. A mother and her son, who were travelling on a two-wheeler, were among those killed on the spot. The injured were rushed to Salem Government Hospital for emergency treatment.

Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the incident. Preliminary inquiries are focusing on whether the driver lost control due to speeding or a mechanical failure.

In a statement on X, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami said he was deeply saddened to learn about the accident and alleged that frequent accidents involving government buses point to poor maintenance under the present regime. He conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.