Nine killed in mishap near Thoothukudi

THOOTHUKUDI: Nine persons, including 3 children, were killed in an accident near Srivaikundam in Thoothukudi district on Monday.A TNSTC was on its way from Tirunelveli to Tiruchendur and when it was nearing Aadichanalloor near Srivaikundam on Monday at around 4.30 pm, when an aged woman tried to cross the road. The bus driver immediately applied sudden brake to avoid hitting the woman, but lost control and after hitting the old woman, collided with a mini van which came in the opposite direction. The woman who tried to cross the road and eight passengers in the van were killed at the spot. She was not yet identified.Initial investigations revealed that the passengers in the van were returning to their native after offering worship at Vana Tirupathi temple, near Kurumboor. The eight passengers in the van were identified as Saravanakumar (45) of Thachanallur, his wife Mariammal (40), son Suresh (10),  daughter Abirami (13), Murugesan (48) of Thachanallur, his wife Sankarammal (40), daughter Meena (15), and one Chandra (45) of Thachanallur. CM Announces ReliefIn Chennai, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa announced a solatium of `1 lakh each to the families of nine persons, who were killed in the road accident in Thoothukudi district.  A solatium of `25,000 has been sanctioned to a person who sustained grievous injuries in the mishap.