Crew, commuters injured as TNSTC bus skids off highway into open land

Two members of a bus crew and 20 commuters, including 12 women, were injured after a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus skidded into an open plot from the Chennai-Bengaluru Highway (NH 48) carriageway at Veppur village near Arcot town in Ranipet due to tyre burst.

Police said that the government bus was proceeding towards Arcot town with 55 commuters on the stretch. R. Vinod driving the vehicle on the elevated corridor of the stretch when the front tyre burst. As a result, the bus driver lost control of the vehicle and skidded to open land away from the carriageway.

The incident happened around 10.30 a.m. Immediately, other motorists rushed to the spot and shifted the injured to Government Taluk Hospital in Walajah town. They also alerted Arcot Town police, who rushed to the spot.

Police said the stretch was slippery due to overnight rain in the area. It could have been the reason for the driver being unable to control the vehicle after the tyre burst. A case was registered. Further probe is under way.