Dindigul: In a major road accident in Tamil Nadu, 17 people, including seven women and two children, were killed and 13 others were injured when their van and a bus collided near Dindigul early March 9 morning.

The deceased, all occupants of the van and hailing from Idaikattu Vayal near Ernakulam in Kerala, were returning to their native place after a trip to Velankanni in Tiruvarur district when they met with the gory accident at Tambinayakanparaipatti, 15 km from Dindigul.

Quoting eye-witness sources, police said the van driver had apparently lost control of the vehicle and it was seen going zig-zag at a high speed before colliding head on with the bus proceeding from Bodinayakanur to Tiruchirappalli.

Eight men, seven women and a girl baby died on the spot, while an 18-month old baby died at a hospital.

Three of the injured were in a serious condition in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the government hospital in Dindigul, police said.

The driver and eight passengers of the bus suffered minor injuries, while the conductor, who suffered head injury, had been hospitalised, they said.

PTI