Transport Minister denies charge that drivers involved in bus collision were untrained

Transport Minister S.S. Sivasankar on Monday (December 1, 2025) rejected the Opposition’s charge that the drivers who operated the buses that collided in Sivaganga on Sunday were untrained. “Both were trained government drivers and not contract drivers,” he said.

After visiting the injured passengers at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, he told mediapersons, “This is the most horrific accident that has occurred in the past three years.” 

He said an investigation was under way to find out what caused  the accident that claimed 11 lives and clarified that only drivers with right experience and qualification were chosen for operating government buses.

“We are only using experienced drivers to operate government buses. Some kind of negligence could have caused this accident. We will also find out whether the drivers are facing a heavy workload,” he said. 

The Minister also visited the Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre where some of the injured passengers were being treated.