A frightening incident occurred on the Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway near Poonamallee, as an air-conditioned bus collided with a lorry laden with bricks, resulting in both vehicles catching fire. Thankfully, all 22 passengers onboard the bus managed to escape the flames, demonstrating quick thinking and resilience during the emergency.
The passengers broke open the rear window glass panels of the bus to make their escape, as the fire spread rapidly after the collision. The ill-fated bus belonged to the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and was en route from Thumbala, Karnataka to CMBT, Koyambedu, Chennai. The collision occurred at the Vellapanchavadi junction when the bus crossed the path of a lorry that was proceeding ahead.
In the aftermath of the impact, a few passengers sustained minor injuries, prompting panic among the commuters. Prompt assistance from passers-by and personnel from the Fire and Rescue Services department in Poonamallee and Maduravoyal helped control the fire and provide support to the passengers. As a result of the incident, traffic on the busy Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway was severely affected, but the gutted vehicles were subsequently removed from the road, restoring normalcy to the route.