Chennai: Bus falls off a flyover, 30 injured

Chennai: At least 30 passengers were injured injured when a crowded bus fell of a flyover in Chennai on Wednesday afternoon. The accident happened on the Gemini flyover on arterial Anna Salai when the driver of the state-owned Metropolitan Transport Corporation bus was taking a blind turn.

The incident occurred at around 1.40 PM when the bus driver on route No. 17M from Parrys to Vadapalani tried to take a left turn on the diversion on Anna flyover towards Nungambakkam, police said. But they refused to confirm eyewitness accounts that the driver was talking on his mobile phone at the time.

According to MTC officials there were 39 persons on the bus, including the driver and conductor. Traffic was badly hit and there was a massive jam following the accident on the flyover, forcing police to divert traffic.

The accident happened on the Gemini flyover when the driver was taking a blind turn.

The injured have been admitted to Royapettah Government Hospital and a nearby private hospital.

Tamil Nadu Health Minister VS Vijay, Social Welfare Minister B Valarmathy, Chennai Mayor Saidai S Duraisamy, City Police Commissioner JK Tripathy, along with top police officers and senior MTC officials visited the spot.

The bus was removed from the spot around three hours later with the help of a crane.

(With additional information from PTI)

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