14 children injured as school van turns turtle

SALEM: At least 14 students were injured when the van in which they were travelling to school turned turtle near Edappadi on Friday. The van belonging to St Ignatius Matriculation School at Boothampalayam in Erode district picked up students from Ponampalayam and Thevur villages in Edappadi taluk. While driving through a passage in a cane field, the  wheels of the vehicle got stuck in slush caused by rains.While trying to get the van moving, the driver lost control and the vehicle turned turtle. Nearly 14 students and the helper were injured. As the news spread, the parents rushed to the spot and took their children to nearby private hospitals.The revenue and police personnel also rescued some children and admitted them to the Edappadi GH. None were seriously injured, but helper Palanisamy’s leg was fractured. Van driver Viswananthan of Edappadi was unhurt.Edappadi tahsildar Kalpana has sent a report in connection with the accident to the RDO. Two Killed, One Hurt as Tractor Hits BikeNamakkal: Two persons were killed and a woman was seriously injured when the bike in which they were riding was hit by a tractor, police said on Friday.M Shanmugam, 35, of Unjanai near Thiruchnegode and S Damodharan, 40, of Periamanaly and his wife D Rani were proceeding to Velagoundampatti on a bike when they knocked down by the tractor on Thursday night.While Peraimanaly died on the spot, Damodharan succumbed to his injuries at Salem GH. Rani, who was severely injured, is undergoing treatment.Miraculous Escape for 18 PassengersNamakkal:  18 passengers had a miraculous escape when the bus they were travelling in skidded off the road and plunged into a small pond at Orathukulam, atop the Kolli hills on Friday. The TNSTC bus was proceeding to Namakkal from Arapalleeshwarar Temple in the hills. While nearing Orathukulam,the bus skidded off the road and plunged into a pond, causing injuries to 18 persons, including 11 women, police said.