Eleven injured as bus plunges into pit

SALEM/NAMAKKAL: A Tamilnadu Transport Corporation bus plunged into a 200-foot deep pit injuring 11 persons, including the conductor and the driver.The bus, which was heading for Semanatham hill villge in Yercaud, had 20 passengers on board. When the bus neared Semanatham, a car suddenly appeared on a bend and the driver of the bus, Bobby (36), while trying to avoid hitting the car lost control and the vehicle plunged into 200-foot deep pit.People nearby helped passengers come out of the ill-fated vehicle. The injured were taken to the Yercaud Government Hospital. Three persons, including conductor Pandiyan, Dhanraj of Papireddypatti, were refered to the Salem GH. The driver Bobbby and six others were treated at the Yercaud GH.Truck Driver Killed in MishapA truck driver was killed after he was hit by a speeding lorry while crossing the road at Karaikal in Paramathivelur, near here, on Sunday night.According to police sources, P Rathinam (45) of Annamangalam village in Perambalur district, who was driving a truck from Paramathivelur to Namakkal, had parked his vehicle near the Karaikal bus stop and had gone to a nearby hotel for taking food. When he was returning to his vehicle, he was hit by a speeding lorry.He sustained severe head injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital. But he died on the way.   The Paramathi police have registered a case and are investigating.