Seven killed as bus falls into 100-ft gorge near Pollachi, narrow escape for 50

Seven people were killed and 50 injured when a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus swerved off the road and fell into a 100-feet gorge near Aliyar dam in Pollachi late on Saturday.

While bodies of three passengers were recovered soon after the accident, four more were retrieved on Sunday. The injured had a miraculous escape when the bus hit a tree on its way down and lay precariously perched on the tree trunk. The bus, carrying 54 passengers and three staff, was heading to Palani from Valparai when the accident took place.

According to police, the bus driver, Sivakumar, was driving rashly when he lost control while negotiating a hairpin bend and the bus plunged into the gorge.

The deceased were identified as N Pappathi alias Sarojini (58), K Chandrakanth (19), A Saravanakumar alias Sathish (7), all hailing from Injiparai, V Nagaraj (54), R Panneerselvam (46), hailing from Oosimalai estate, K Chandrabose (55) from Periyakallar and K Vellaisamy (50) from Vellaimalai estate in Valparai.

The injured have been admitted to the government hospitals at Pollachi and Coimbatore. According to the doctors at the hospitals, most of the injured had suffered multiple fractures but their condition was stable.

Kadamparai police have registered a case against the bus driver under Section 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 304 A (causing death by negligence) of Indian Penal Code.

Monday 26 november 2012

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Seven-killed-as-bus-falls-into-100-ft-gorge-near-Pollachi-narrow-escape-for-50/articleshow/17367814.cms