Government bus falls into ditch near Chengalpet, 18 hurt

Chennai: As many as 18 passengers were injured near Chengalpet, as a government bus plunged into a ditch on GST Road, on Saturday morning. According to police sources, a TNSTC bus plunged into the ditch after an uncontrolled lorry rammed into the bus on GST Road near Pulipakkam. “A biker had entered the national highway from a service lane without noticing a speeding lorry. Meanwhile, the lorry driver had swerved the vehicle to avoid crashing the biker,” the police said.

But the driver lost the control of the lorry and crossed centre median to jump to the opposite lane. “At the time the bus coming from Cuddalore and bound for Chennai arrived at the spot. Before the bus driver could react, the lorry rammed into the bus, forcing it off the road. The bus plunged into 25 feet ditch,” the police added.

18 passengers, including bus driver Devendiran (40) and conductor Radhakrishnan (56), were injured in the accident. Responding to the distress call, Chengalpet taluk police arrived at the spot and sent the injured to Chengalpet government medical college hospital.The police have registered a case and a search is on for the lorry driver, who had fled the spot immediately after the accident.