At least 19 killed as Ernakulam-bound KSRTC bus collides with truck in Coimbatore

At least 19 people were killed and several injured in a major accident in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore early Thursday morning after a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus — Kl 15 A 282 — collided with a container truck. (Express Photo by Srinivas)

The bus was on its way to Kerala’s Ernakulam from Karnataka’s Bengaluru. The accident took place in Avinashi town. (Express Photo by Srinivas)

The mangled remains of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus gave a picture of the severe hit it took, after the container lorry entered the wrong lane and rammed into it. (Express Photo by Srinivas)

The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) PRO said both the driver and conductor were among those killed in the accident. (Express Photo by Srinivas)

The injured have been admitted to hospitals in Tirupur, while some have been referred to Coimbatore. (Express Photo by Srinivas)

Preliminary reports suggested that one of the tyres of the container truck burst, after which it crossed the median on the highway and crashed into the right side of the bus coming from the opposite direction. (Express Photo by Srinivas)

Deputy Tehsildar of Tiruppur, Alagarasan said, “The accident took place at 3:30 am today. Over 100 officers including police and medical staff are carrying out the rescue work.” He also said the container was coming in the wrong direction and rammed into the bus. (Express Photo by Srinivas)

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has instructed the District Collector of Palakkad to provide emergency medical care to the accident victims. Procedures to identify the deceased are in progress. (Express Photo by Srinivas)

Some of the dead have been identified as Rossley from Palakkad, Gireesh (Ernakulam), Igni Rafael (Ollur, Thrissur), Kiran Kumar, Haneesh (Thrissur), Sivakumar (Ottapalam), Rajesh K. (Palakkad), Gismon Shaju (Thuravoor) and Naseeb Mohammed (Thrissur). (Express Photo by Srinivas)