Two women die, nine injured as van hits bus near Mamallapuram
The accident occurred on Friday morning on the Old Mahabalipuram Road after a driver swerved to avoid a stray cow.
Two women died and nine others were injured after a van carrying private factory employees collided with a bus near Payanur on the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) around 5 am on Friday, according to The New Indian Express and The Hindu.
The deceased have been identified as S Jayalakshmi, 40, of Koovathur, and P Durgalakshmi, 34, of Thirukazhukundram. One injured 25-year-old woman remains in critical condition due to head injuries, while the others are stable.
Mamallapuram police stated the van was transporting 20 women workers from Payanur towards a factory near Kelambakkam when the driver lost control while attempting to avoid a cow that crossed the road. The vehicle veered to the opposite side and hit a bus travelling from Thiruporur towards Mamallapuram before overturning into a roadside ditch.
Local residents, police, and fire and rescue personnel assisted in rescue operations. The van driver allegedly fled the scene, and police are currently searching for him.
The bodies were taken to Chengalpattu Government Hospital for postmortem, while the injured were sent to Poonjeri Government Hospital for treatment. A case has been registered and traffic on OMR was disrupted for nearly an hour.