Coimbatore: 19 Killed, Several Injured After Kochi-Bound KSRTC Bus Collides With Truck

Nineteen people died and more than 20 people suffered severe injuries after a Volvo bus of Kerala Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) collided with a speeding container truck near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu in the early hours of Thursday. The deceased included the bus driver and five women. According to the preliminary reports, 48 passengers were in the bus and the accident occured at Thirumuruganpoondi (Tirupur district) on the Avinashi-Salem bypass around 3.25am. Police said the container truck, laden with floor tiles, was heading towards Bengaluru from Kochi.

The police further added that the driver of the truck might have slept at the wheels for a few seconds and lost control of the vehicle. The truck hit the median, entered the other side of the road and rammed the bus.

Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit and chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami condoled the deaths of 19 people in the accident.

"I convey my deep condolences to the bereaved members of the families. I pray to God to rest the departed Souls in peace and to give strength to their families to overcome this unfathomable loss. I also pray to God for the speedy recovery of all the injured," Purohit said in a statement.

P Jordin Xavier, 38, of Nemmara in Palakkad district, who was travelling in the bus, told the Times of India, "I was in deep sleep when the accident happened. I could not tell exactly what happened. My wife and I escaped with minor injuries. God saved us."

The Kerala police asked relatives of the deceased to contact Palakkad SP G Sivavikram for further assistance. They also released contact numbers - 9497962891, 9497990090, 9497996977.

Siddhu Malawad, 44, of Bengaluru, who was travelling to Ernakulam, said, "I was in deep sleep and heard collision sound. I saw passengers lying dead in the bus. A lot of people were found unconscious. Some people broke the glasses on the side of the bus and rescued the injured people."