24 injured as private bus crashes into flyover retaining wall at Neelambur near Coimbatore

Twenty-four people suffered injuries after a private bus plying between Tiruppur and Coimbatore crashed into a retaining wall of the flyover at Neelambur on the outskirts on Friday (June 19).

The accident occurred around 7.15 a.m. when the bus was heading to Coimbatore with 44 passengers and crew.

The police said that the bus crashed into the retaining wall on the right side of the flyover while ascending it from the Salem – Kochi Highway to enter Coimbatore city limits. The bus tipped over to the left side in the impact of the collision.

A total of 24 passengers, mostly college students travelling from Tiruppur and Karumathampatti to Coimbatore, suffered injuries. Of the injured, 15 were women. 

The private bus that met with an accident at Neelambur near Coimbatore on Friday.
| Photo Credit:
Wilson Thomas

Neelambur Inspector P. Thiyagarajan and his team rushed to the spot after being alerted by commuters. The injured passengers were rescued and shifted to nearby hospitals.

Following damage to the fuel tank, diesel leaked onto the road. Fire and Rescue Services personnel from Sulur headed by Station Officer M. Ramasubramanian rushed to the spot and sprayed firefighting foam.

Traffic towards Coimbatore along the highway was disrupted for over two hours due to the accident. The police diverted vehicles to the L&T bypass to take further diversions to Avinashi Road. The bus was shifted using cranes to clear the flyover for traffic towards Coimbatore city.

The police said that negligent driving by the driver, M. Sugumar (31) of Gobichettipalayam, led to the accident. The Neelambur police registered a case against Sugumar and conductor A. Meganathan (26) under different Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Motor Vehicles Act and arrested them.