In the early hours of Sunday, an electric intercity bus en route to Coimbatore from Tiruchirappalli met with a terrifying accident, leaving 21 passengers injured. The incident occurred around 2:30 am on the Karumathampatti flyover when the driver, Pasupathi, reportedly lost control of the vehicle. The bus collided forcefully with a concrete barrier dividing the service road from the flyover.
The collision left several passengers hurt due to the sudden impact. Moments later, smoke began to rise from the battery compartment of the bus. Fortunately, two truck drivers — C. Sabarimalai and M. Ramesh, both aged 29 and hailing from Virudhunagar district — were passing by in their lorry, transporting goods from Gujarat to Sulur.
Noticing the smoke and sensing imminent danger, the duo acted swiftly. They pulled over, smashed the bus’s windows, and started evacuating the trapped passengers. Their quick-thinking and courage ensured everyone exited the vehicle before the bus was engulfed in flames.
Firefighting teams from the Karumathampatti and Sulur fire stations rushed to the location and battled the blaze. All injured individuals were immediately taken to the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) and nearby private healthcare facilities for treatment. Thankfully, both the driver and conductor of the bus were unharmed.
The Karumathampatti police have filed a case and launched an investigation into the cause of the mishap. Meanwhile, district authorities lauded the brave truck drivers for their selfless act.