Chennai: Two youngsters were charred to death and two others grievously injured when two bikes collided head-on and caught fire near Thirukalukundram in Kancheepuram on Saturday night.
Police said V Hariharan (28) a resident of Senthamangalam village at Chengalpattu and Praveen Kumar (25) from Malalinatham village near Nenmeli were the ones who died. The incident happened around 8.30 pm at Puller on Tiruthani -Arakkonam highway.
Sources said V Hariharan was riding a motorbike with his nephews D Diwahar (16) and D Nitheesh (14) riding pillion. "They were travelling towards Thirukazhukundram to attend a family function while Praveen Kumar was driving towards Chengalpattu in the opposite direction.
Both the riders were at top speed and while manoeuvring they collided head-on. The handles of both the bikes got entangled and the two bikes were dragged for a few metres, the police said. Due to the impact, the fuel tanks of both the bikes scraped along the road and the fuel started leaking. Sparks flew due to the friction triggering a fire.
Passersby alerted the police and fire service personnel, who rushed to the spot, doused the fire, the police said. Hariharan was charred to death on the spot while Praveen Kumar, Diwahar and Nitheesh were taken to the Chengalpattu government hospital where Praveen Kumar was declared dead on arrival. The Thirukazhukundram police registered a case and further investigations are on.
