Chennai: At least 12 passengers, including the driver, were injured after a MTC bus rammed into the steel pole of a signage board near Spencer’s plaza on Anna Salai on Tuesday morning. Traffic on the arterial stretch was thrown out of gear following the accident, in which a two-wheeler and mini truck were also damaged.
The incident happened around 11 am. Police said that the MTC bus (route no.18k), plying from Saidapet (west) was going towards Broadway when it met with the accident near the shopping mall.
An injured passenger was taken to the Royapettah government hospital. (Photo: DC)
Investigations revealed that the bus driver, Elumalai, had attempted to avoid hitting an autorickshaw when he swerved to his right and hit the pole of the signage board. “The pole got uprooted and the board fell on the bus and two other vehicles,” a police officer said.
In the melee, passengers in the bus suffered injuries. Around 50 passengers were said to be on the bus when the accident happened. Public and police personnel rushed to the aid of injured passengers and moved them to the Government Royapettah Hospital. “The passengers were treated for their injuries and later discharged,” a police official said.
“All I could recall is that there was a loud thud and some of us were thrown out of our seats. I feel lucky that nothing major happened,” said Krishna Ammal, one of the passengers in the bus.
Elumalai
Driver Elumalai (32) suffered injuries on his leg. While passengers in the bus were lucky to have survived with minor injuries, the same cannot be said of the motorists as vehicular traffic moved at snail’s pace following the accident.
The traffic pile up led beyond the Gemini flyover and it took almost two hours before the bus and the pole was removed from the scene.
Pondy Bazaar Traffic investigation has registered a case and is investigating.
