Tiruvannamalai: Five from Assam were killed in a mishap after their sports-utility-vehicle ploughed into a government bus head-on, while they were returning to Bengaluru after visiting the neighbouring Union Territory Puducherry, near here on Monday night, officials said.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased hail from Assam and were working in Bengaluru.
Police said a Tata Sumo Victa bearing the registration no. KA 02 AA 8389, heading towards Bengaluru from Tiruvannamalai, collided head-on with a government bus plying towards Tiruvannamalai from Dharmapuri around 9.30 pm, when it was passing through Anthanur near Pakkiripalayam bypass.
On information, the Fire and Rescue Services Personnel from Chengam and Chengam Police arrived at the spot and pulled out those stuck in the SUV.
The rescue team rushed 14 persons to the hospital besides retrieving bodies of five persons who have been killed in the accident.
One more succumbed to the injuries at the Chengam Government Hospital, another was declared 'brought dead' by the doctors at the Hospital.
Police identified Pancha Raai, Narayanan, Vimal, Saal, and Nikhaal as those among the deceased and natives of Assam state.
Ten passengers who were travelling by the bus were injured due to the heavy impact of the collision and were being treated for their injuries. Two of them - Kamaraj from Uthangarai, Dharmapuri district, and Punith Kumar, (23) from Denkanikottai, Krishnagiri, lost their lives.
The front windshield of the bus was dislodged in the collision and was on the top of the SUV. The latter's front bonnet was pumped into the bus' engine.
Mel Chengam Police who has jurisdiction over the accident site has registered a case and are investigating the cause of the accident.
The accident resulted in a traffic snarl in the narrow road where vehicles queued up instantly and the police were able to restore traffic only after removing both the vehicles involved in the acccident.
