Six killed, 42 injured in head-on collision between State, omni buses near Madurai

Six persons, including four men and a woman, were killed and 42 others injured in a head-on collision between a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus and a private omni bus near Kottampatti in Madurai district during the early hours of Monday.
Police said the private omni bus was travelling from Chennai to Marthandam with passengers when the driver allegedly lost control near Vandinagaram on the Madurai-Trichy four-lane highway.
The bus crossed into the opposite carriageway and crashed head-on into a government bus travelling from Madurai towards Tiruchirappalli.
The impact of the collision was severe, with the omni bus ramming into a roadside passenger shelter before coming to a halt.
The front portion of the private bus was completely mangled, while the government bus overturned.
Six passengers died on the spot, while 42 injured passengers were rescued and admitted to the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, where they are undergoing treatment.
Hospital authorities said several of the injured were in a serious condition.
Kottampatti Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.
Police said a major tragedy was averted as the passenger shelter was deserted at the time of the accident, preventing further loss of life.
The accident caused heavy traffic disruption and panic in the area.