5 Bengal pilgrims killed in TN bus fire

There were 80 pilgrims — mostly women and elderly — on the bus which was returning from Rameswaram.

At least five persons were killed and 11 seriously injured in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu when a bus from West Bengal went up in flames after a gas cylinder onboard exploded.

There were 80 pilgrims — mostly women and elderly — on the bus which was returning from Rameswaram. The bus had left West Bengal on August 22.

As the passengers had set out for a long road trip that spanned over a fortnight, the group was carrying five gas cylinders for cooking purposes. A survivor told the police that the blast occurred immediately after the driver stopped the bus as one of the passengers saw smoke coming out of the vehicle. While many passengers aboard managed to escape, the bus was engulfed in flames minutes after the explosion.

All injured passengers have been shifted to Rajaji Hospital in Madurai. “Out of the 11 injured, five have suffered serious burn injuries,” said a police officer.

Those who managed to escape unhurt were now being taken to Chennai from where they would be taken to West Bengal.

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