Two, including AIADMK functionary, killed in government bus-car collision near Thuraiyur

Two persons, including an AIADMK office-bearer, were killed in a road accident involving a government bus and a car on the Perambalur-Thuraiyur State highway near Keezhakunnapatti diversion road, under the Thuraiyur police station limits, on Thursday (January 1, 2026).

The police identified the deceased as M. Thirugnanam, 65, of Nallampalayam in Ariyalur district, who was a passenger in the car, and L. Sivasankar, 40, of Nallampalayam, who drove the vehicle. Sivasankar was the Perambalur district secretary of the AIADMK’s ‘Ilaignar and Ilam Pengal Paasarai’.

Police sources said the government bus was on its way to Thuraiyur from Chennai when the fatal accident occurred at around 10.30 a.m. A mini freight carrier headed for Thuraiyur from Perambalur rammed another mini freight vehicle that was parked on the roadside. 

The driver of the government bus, which was behind the mini freight carrier, while trying to avoid hitting the vehicle, swerved to the right and rammed the car that was coming from the opposite direction. Thirugnanam was killed on the spot, and Sivasankar died on the way to a private hospital. The car was completely damaged in the impact of the collision.

Two other passengers in the car, two occupants of the mini freight carrier, and the driver of the other mini freight vehicle were injured in the accident and were admitted to Government Hospital, Thuraiyur. The bodies of the victims were taken to the same hospital for autopsy. Further investigation is under way.