The car that was involved in the accident.
Three people, including two women, were killed after the car they were travelling in collided with a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus near Vettavalam village on the Chittoor-Cuddalore Highway, close to Tiruvannamalai town.
Police identified the deceased as S. Kalaivanan (60), B. Pounnu Ammal (70), Kanagavalli (36), and V. Govindaraj (42), all relatives from Vengaikaal village under Tiruvannamalai Corporation limits.
Initial inquiries revealed that the group was taking Pounnu Ammal, who had been unwell, to a hospital in Villupuram for treatment. The driver, Kalaivanan, reportedly lost control of the car and hit the oncoming government bus, which was travelling from Villupuram to Bengaluru with approximately 35 passengers.
Kanagavalli died at the scene. The three other car occupants were injured but were rescued by motorists and passersby and admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Tiruvannamalai. Pounnu Ammal and Kalaivanan later succumbed to their injuries. All bus passengers and crew escaped unhurt. The bus driver fled the scene and remains at large.
The Vettavalam police have registered a case. The bodies have been sent for postmortem, and the mangled car was towed away to restore traffic. An investigation is underway.
Published – December 25, 2025 06:09 pm IST
