Chennai: Four persons were charred to death, as an omni bus and a cement-laden truck collided near Ulundurpet in Villupuram district early Friday.
According to police, the omni bus, with 20 persons on board, was proceeding to Madurai via Tiruchy and when it reached near Azees Nagar on the National Highway, a cement-laden truck, proceeding towards Ariyalur tried to turn the vehicle to the right though an opening. Even as the truck was switching on the indicators, it is said that the omini bus coming at high speed hit the lorry.
In the impact, fire that emanated from the bus. While some passengers felt suffocated and they alighted the bus with screams, the bus driver, alternate bus driver, a passenger and a person in the lorry were trapped inside their vehicle and they were charred to death.
Upon receiving the information, police from Edaikkal rushed to the spot and ambulances were called. The deceased were identified as bus drivers P. Alexander (59) and M. Sakthivel (58), and woman passenger C. Monisha (21) of Aruppukottai.
However, the person who was in the truck could not be identified, as fire engulfed him beyond recognition. Further investigation is on.
