24 killed, 41 hurt in TN accidents

Chennai, Feb 5 (UNI) Twenty-four people were killed and 41 injured in three road accidents in Tamil Nadu today.

Police said four people were killed and one injured when the bus in which they were travelling collided with a lorry at Uthukkadu Village in Kancheepuram District of Tamil Nadu in the early hours today.

While three persons died on the spot, the other succumbed to his injuries on way to hospital. The injured was admitted to the government hospital at Kancheepuram, police added.

Fourteen people, including a State Bank of India Official and a head constable, were killed and 32 others injured when a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus and a private omni bus collided head on at Nanguneri in Tirunelveli District.

Police said the TNSTC bus was proceeding to Tirunelveli from Nagercoil and the private bus was proceeding to Koodangulam from Chennai when the accident occured.

While 12 persons, including seven women were crushed to death one person succumbed to injuries at the Government Headquarters Hospital at Tirunelveli.

The injured were admitted to government hospitals at Nanguneri, Valliyur and Palayamkottai and a private hospital at Nagercoil.

The condition of the six of the injured were stated to be critical.

Six loadmen were killed -- five on the spot while another succumbed en route to the hospital -- and eight injured when a tapioca laden lorry in which they travelling overturned at Thalaivasal in Salem District.

Police said the driver of the lorry, who wanted to avoid a stray dog, applied brakes suddenly which led to the accident. The victims were sitting on the tapioca load.

The deceased were identified as Ponnusamy (35), Ayyankutty (42), Subramanian (40), Vairamani (23), Periyasamy (27) and Kaliyan (27).

The injured were admitted to government hospital at Thalaivasal.

Due to the accident, vehicular traffic was affected in the area for about an hour, police said.

UNI