Government bus slips into pit dug up for Metro Rail work

Passengers on board a government bus had a fortunate escape, after the bus slipped into a pit on GST Road in Pallavaram on Monday.

CHENNAI: Passengers on board a government bus had a fortunate escape, after the bus slipped into a pit on GST Road in Pallavaram on Monday. The State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) bus, plying between Tiruvannamalai and Chennai, fell four feet into the pit, which was dug up for the Metro Rail work. Though none of the passengers was harmed, the bus driver sustained injuries.

The accident, which took place around 2 am, resulted in traffic being held up on the GST Road for  more than two hours.

According to Chromepet traffic investigation police, the accident happened when a car coming from the left side overtook the bus which was crossing the Ariva signal.The front windshield of the bus broke as it fell into the pit, leading to the driver, S Subbramani (42), of Villuppuram district, getting injured.“Subbramani, who noticed the car coming very close, moved right to prevent a collision. But in doing so, the bus slipped into the pit,” the police said. Since the traffic police couldn’t lift the bus, they called for a crane. It took more than two hours for the bus to be removed from the pit.

When contacted, a Chennai Metro Rail spokesperson said, “The viaduct of Chennai Metro ends at airport. No work is being undertaken in Pallavaram.”Based on a complaint lodged by the bus conductor, Mani, a case has been registered and investigation is going on.In another accident at Kathipara flyover at Guindy, a water lorry rammed the median, resulting in traffic on Guindy-Porur stretch being affected for over an hour.Mount traffic investigation police said, “The driver Balasubramaniyan (40), who sustained fractures on both legs, allegedly slept while driving.”

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