Tiruvannamalai: In a tragic incident, two elderly devotees from Andhra Pradesh died while three others were injured after the car collided with a bus in Tiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu, officials said on Saturday. The tragic road accident took place in Ayyampalayam area near Arani in Tiruvannamalai district.
The deceased have been identified as Venkata Reddy (61) and Shekhar Reddy (55) while the injured have been identified as Monika and Madhumitha. An official said that the travelers are residents of Koralampetta near Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh. According to the official, the victims had come to Thiruvannamalai Annamalaiyar Temple after performing Chitra Pournami Girivalam (fullmoon procession) as part of a religious ritual.
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An official said that after completing the girivalam ritual, the four devotees left by car last night for Andhra through Vellore. The car, which was driven by Shekhar Reddy, collided head on with a bus coming from the opposite direction resulting into a major accident. In the subsequent accident, the two said travelers died on the spot while as the other two were injured.
Also, one of the 22 people traveling in the van sustained injuries and was admitted to the hospital. Monika and Madhumita, who were seriously injured, have been admitted to the Vellore Government Hospital in a critical condition. The impact of the accident was so huge that the car's front was completely wrecked.
The bus also suffered damage in the incident. The cause of the accident was not immediately known. It was not clear whether the car driver was over-speeding or the accident was caused due to the rash driving of the bus driver. Soon after the accident, a team of police from the Kannamangalam police rushed to the spot to launch a rescue operation.
However, by the time, the police could reach the spot, the two travelers had succumbed. Police have registered a case and are investigating the accident.
