Five Lives Lost in Car-Bus Collision in Karur, Tamil Nadu
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Synopsis
On Feb 26, a devastating accident in Tamil Nadu's Karur district claimed five lives, including two women. The collision involved a car and a TNSTC bus, highlighting ongoing road safety challenges despite overall declines in road fatalities in the state.
Key Takeaways
- Five individuals died in a tragic road accident.
- The accident involved a collision between a car and a TNSTC bus.
- Authorities reported a decrease in overall road fatalities in Tamil Nadu.
- Driver error was a significant factor in previous accidents.
- Highway patrol initiatives have helped save lives.
Chennai, Feb 26 (NationPress) Five individuals, including two women, tragically lost their lives in a severe road accident near Kulithalai in the Karur district of Tamil Nadu.
The incident transpired when the vehicle they were in collided head-on with a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus.
This unfortunate event occurred on the Karur-Tiruchy National Highway while the car was heading to a temple in Okkanadu Keelayur, near Orathanadu in Thanjavur district, and crashed into the bus that was traveling from Aranthangi in Pudukkottai district to Tiruppur via Tiruchy. The collision was so severe that the car was crushed beneath the bus, rendering it completely destroyed.
All five passengers, including the driver, died instantly.
The victims have been identified as S. Selvaraj (50), a resident of Gandhi Nagar in Sugunapuram East, Coimbatore, his wife S. Kalayarasi (45), their daughter S. Akalya (25), son S. Arun (22), and the driver, Vishnu (24), who lived in Villarasanpatti in Erode district.
Upon notification, the Kulithalai Police, supported by fire and rescue teams, worked for approximately 1.5 hours to retrieve the bodies from the wreckage.
The deceased were subsequently taken to the Kulithalai Government District Headquarters Hospital for autopsy.
Despite this heartbreaking event, Tamil Nadu has seen a reduction in fatal road accidents. Compared to the previous year, there has been a decrease of 273 road accident fatalities in 2024.
Officials credit this decline to enhanced road safety protocols, stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, and aggressive measures against driving under the influence.
State Police Chief Sankar Jiwal noted that, in spite of an increase in both human and vehicle populations and an expansion of road networks, the police have implemented various initiatives aimed at improving road safety.
In 2023, Tamil Nadu recorded 17,526 fatal accidents, leading to 18,347 deaths. In contrast, 2024 saw a decrease to 17,282 fatal accidents with 18,074 fatalities.
An analysis of 2023's fatal accidents indicated that driver error was the cause of 16,800 out of 17,526 accidents.
To mitigate accidents, the Highway Patrol Mobile Application has been leveraged for awareness campaigns and the enforcement of road safety regulations.
Authorities also performed a field survey identifying 6,165 accident-prone zones (Black Spots) based on vehicle density, traffic conditions, and accident history. Collaborating with the State Highways Department, numerous safety engineering measures have been put in place, including speed reductions at 3,165 locations.
Most cities and districts in Tamil Nadu have reported a drop in road accidents. Furthermore, highway patrol vehicles have been instrumental in saving lives, rescuing 12,629 critically injured accident victims and ensuring they received medical care within the Golden Hour.
In addition to the strict enforcement of traffic laws to discourage reckless driving, authorities have conducted thousands of awareness programs to educate the public on responsible road usage.
