9 killed as bus hits lorry

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Nine persons, including two women and a child, were killed and 10 injured when the a government bus (bus route number: 303 express) they were traveling in hit a stationary lorry in Rajakulam in Kanchipuram on the Chennai-Bengaluru highway on Thursday afternoon.

Seven persons died on the spot, while two succumbed to injuries at Kanchipuram government hospital.
Six of the deceased were identified as Rajesh, 40, of Taramani, V. Jaya Babu, Mohan, 50, and Subhashini from Sathankad, Jyothi of Avadi and Saritha. The police said that five of the deceased were from Chennai and nearby areas.

At least six of the injured were shifted to Chennai general hospital.

“The accident happened at 3.15 pm when the speeding bus plying between Hosur and Chennai hit the lorry. Most of the victims were sitting on the left side of the bus that was being driven by Dilli Babu of Vellore, who has been arrested by the police.

The bus passengers have blamed the driver for the accident and alleged that he was driving rashly since he started from Hosur.

“According to passengers, he drove as if he was sleepy. He failed to notice even a stationary lorry in daylight. He almost lost control on two occasions during the journey before it the mishap,” the police said.

Local villagers helped the police to collect all the luggage and valuables belonging to the passengers, which were strewn on the road and handed them over to the police for safe-keeping.