13 killed in van-bus smash near Rasipuram

NAMAKKAL: Thirteen persons, including nine women, were killed in a collision involving a van and a bus, near Rasipuram on Thursday.According to sources, most of the victims were workers of a textile mill near Athanur from Vennandur and adjoining areas. The accident occurred at Ettimadam when the van driver tried to overtake a lorry and ended up ramming into the bus which was proceeding to Erode from Rasipuram.“Eight persons died on the spot, while five others succumbed to injuries in the hospital. Twenty four persons sustained injuries and are being treated at various hospitals, including the Salem General Hospital,” Superintendent of Police M Sathia Priya, who visited the accident spot, told Express. Those killed on the spot were identified as N Rajeshwari (50), S Murugesan (35), R Kanaga (35), P Thamilarasi (28), V Satheeshkumar (30), P Meena (40), M Prabhavathi (30) and K Kosalyadevi (45). Four others — K Punitha (40), I Prakash (18), K Karpagam (21) and S Dhanalakshmi (35) - succumbed to injuries at the Salem GH, while R Nandhakumar (25), died at a private hospital, sources said. While Rajeshwari and Punitha were passengers of the bus, the rest were occupants of the van. The drivers of the van and bus, Kumaravelu and Somasundaram, escaped with injuries. Relatives of the deceased persons broke into tears at the Rasipuram GH where the bodies were taken for autopsy. This is the second major road accident in the district in a week. On Saturday, five pilgrims of Karnataka were killed when a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation  bus in which they were travelling hit a timber-laden lorry in Puduchatram near here.