TN: 5 pilgrims die in mishap at Namakkal

NAMAKKAL: Five pilgrims, including two women,  were killed and 13 others injured after a Karnataka State-owned bus rammed a lorry on Namakkal-Salem Road early on Saturday morning.According to police, four of the victims-K Karunanidhi (48) of Rajaji Nagar in Bangalore, his son K Naveen, Y Dhanalakshmi (24) and S Devan (50) died on the spot due to multiple injuries, while S Uma (50) breathed her last on the way to the hospital.  The victims had occupied the seats on the left side of the bus which suffered severe damage. They were on their way to the famous Tirunallaru Saneeswarar Temple near Nagapattinam as part of a three-day pilgrimage when the bus rammed a timber-laden lorry at Puduchatram near here, sources said.“About 50 pilgrims started their journey in the ill-fated bus at 10 pm from Rajaji Nagar in Banglore. When the bus was proceeding towards Namakkal, it hit a lorry loaded with wood planks. The accident occurred at 5 am,” Namakkal DSP K S Subramanian told Express.In the mishap, 13 persons, including the driver Nagesh, sustained injuries and others on board the bus escaped unhurt.Police officials including the SP M Sathia Priya visited the spot and held inquiries.“All of us were asleep as it was early in the morning. We woke up after hearing a loud sound and then only realised that we were in danger. Fortunately, we escaped without much harm,” told Suganay, a passenger who was travelling her husband Ruthra Muniappan and escaped unhurt in the accident.