Six people were killed and five others grievously injured after a mini omnibus collided head-on with a van on the Salem-Chennai national highway on Tuesday morning.
Of the five injured, the condition of one is stated to be critical.
Police said that Rajesh (29) from Komarapalayam in Namakkal district had come to Leigh Bazar in Attur on Monday to attend a funeral. Early Tuesday, he, along with his ten relatives and friends, was headed towards a tea shop on the Salem-Chennai national highway. When they reached a flyover, an omnibus collided with their van.
All 11 passengers in the van sustained severe injuries, and six of them passed away instantly.
The accident claimed the lives of Rajesh, who was operating the vehicle, A. Ramya (25), S. Saranya (23), S. Suganya (27), M. Santhiya (23), and S. Dhanshika (11), all residents of Mullaivadi near Attur.
Treatment is being provided at the Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital for P. Periannan (age 38), H. Bhuvaneshwari (17), S. Krishnaveni (age 45), S. Udhayakumar (17), and M. Sudha (age 35). According to reports, Periannan is in critical condition.
The police are looking into whether the Omnibus’s driver was under the influence of alcohol after filing a case.
