Bengaluru: 7 women were seated on roadside when a van crushed them to death

A lorry struck a mini tourist bus from behind on the Bangalore-Chennai National Highway at Sandiyur near Natrampalli town in Tirupattur district during the early hours of today at around 3 am, causing the bus to overturn on the passengers who were sitting in front of it and leading to the deaths of seven women in a road accident.

Natrampalli police reported that 10 persons sustained injuries, and they admitted 9 of them to the Krishnagiri Government Medical College Hospital, while they provided treatment to one child through OP. Among the injured five were women and 4 were men. 

Selvi (55), Meera (51), Devaki (50), Kalavathy (50), Savithri (42), Geethanjali (35), and Deivaanai (32) from Pernampet town in Vellore district are the identified victims.

20 people return from Bangalore trip

Police reported that more than 20 people went on a tour to Bangalore on September 8 and were returning to their hometown in two minibuses on September 11 after visiting tourist spots.

However, one of the minibuses had a tire puncture on the service road at Sandiyur near Natrampalli, so they stopped the bus by the center median. While working on the repair, the passengers sat in front of the bus.

During this time, an Eicher lorry approaching from behind collided with the bus, causing it to fall onto the passengers. This resulted in the deaths of seven women and injuries to nine people, including the driver and cleaner.

The injured individuals were first taken to Natrampalli Government Hospital and then transferred to Krishnagiri Government Medical College Hospital. Three bodies were transported to Vaniyambadi Government Hospital, while four were sent to Tirupattur Government Hospital.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families and announced a solatium of ₹ one lakh to each of the affected family.

In a statement, he said, "We will also pay ₹ 50,000 through the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund to the injured undergoing treatment."

Tirupattur Collector D Bhaskara Pandian visited the kin of the victims at the government hospital in Tirupattur. Vellore Collector P Kumaravel Pandian visited the families of victims at Vaniyambadi Government Hospital. Kirshnagiri Collector, K M Sarayu, visited the injured at the Krishnagiri Government Medical College Hospital.

After the incident, the authorities announced a solatium of Rs 1 lakh to the kin of the seven women who died in the accident, and Rs 50,000 for each of the injured.

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