by Three members of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) party lost their lives while 14 others sustained injuries in a devastating collision between a van and a lorry. The tragic accident took place on the Salem-Vriddhachalam highway in Tamil Nadu, near Naraiyur.
The victims, who were identified as N. Uthirakumar (29), V. Yuvaraj (17), and A. Anbu Selvan, were part of a group of 25 VCK cadres. They were returning to Villianur near Bhuvanagiri from Bhuvanagiri in Cuddalore district after attending a party conference at Siruganur near Tiruchi on Friday evening.
The incident occurred around 2:50 a.m. when the van was in close proximity to Naraiyur. Unfortunately, the driver lost control of the vehicle, resulting in a head-on collision with a goods lorry approaching from the opposite direction. Promptly, the police and fire and rescue services personnel from Veppur rushed to the spot and initiated rescue operations. The injured individuals were immediately taken to Vriddachalam, Veppur, and Perambalur Government Hospitals for medical treatment. The lorry driver, K. Senthil Gavaskar (37), was later referred to Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), while the van driver, S. Chiranjeevi (26), was referred to the Tiruchi GH.
This unfortunate incident adds to the string of major accidents that have recently plagued Tamil Nadu. Just hours prior, a 29-year-old pedestrian lost their life after being struck by a Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) bus on Anna Salai. The driver involved in the accident has been arrested by the Anna Salai Traffic Investigation police.
In another tragic incident on Friday, four individuals, including three women, were tragically burnt to death due to a multiple-vehicle collision on the Thoppur Ghat Road in Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu.
The Salem-Vriddhachalam highway has witnessed several accidents in recent times, highlighting the need for increased safety measures and stricter enforcement of traffic rules. Authorities and local communities must work together to ensure the well-being and security of all road users.
