Chennai, Oct 8 (IANS) A head-on collision between a government bus and a soil-laden lorry near Prancheri in Tirunelveli district on Thursday left a bus conductor dead and more than 20 passengers injured.
The deceased was identified as Ajith Melvin Arthur, 52, a resident of Kanniyakumari district.
He sustained fatal injuries and died on the spot.
The injured passengers were admitted to Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital, where they are undergoing treatment.
The accident occurred while the bus, carrying more than 20 passengers, was travelling on the Tirunelveli-Thoothukudi highway.
Preliminary information indicated that the lorry, travelling in the opposite direction, reportedly lost control before colliding head-on with the bus.
The impact extensively damaged the front portion of the bus.
Police and rescue personnel were alerted and rushed to the scene to assist the injured and clear the wreckage.
Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the lorry’s reported loss of control.
Rescue teams evacuated the injured from the damaged vehicle and arranged their transportation to hospital.
More than 20 passengers were reported to have sustained serious injuries.
Medical teams are attending to the injured, although details of their individual conditions were not immediately available.
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the accident.
The lorry driver is being questioned to establish the sequence of events leading to the collision and determine how the vehicle crashed into the oncoming bus.
The preliminary account that the lorry went out of control remains subject to the findings of the investigation.
Police have yet to establish the exact cause of the accident.
Traffic on the highway was disrupted for some time following the collision, causing concern among passing motorists and residents.
Emergency personnel continued rescue and recovery operations at the site while police pursued their inquiry into the incident.
With the conductor confirmed dead and more than 20 passengers injured, investigators are continuing to question the lorry driver as part of the probe.
–IANS
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