Two killed, 4 hurt as MTC bus runs amok

CHENNAI: Chaos reigned at Iyyappanthangal on Tuesday morning as two persons were killed and four injured after the driver of an MTC bus lost control of the wheel, and rammed two other vehicles before running over pedestrians. The driver was arrested.Police said, the driver Narayanan (45), had fainted on the wheel after he developed convulsions. The bus was carrying around 60 passengers from Thiruvallur to T Nagar on route number 597, when the mishap occurred. The bus had hit a van, with the van hitting an autorickshaw, which in turn ran into a lorry. Auto driver, Rajangam (40) of Choolaimedu was killed as the autorickshaw was crushed between the other vehicles. Despite all this, the MTC bus kept hurtling on and ploughed into a group of pedestrians. One Lakshmi and Shanthi, were injured. Another pedestrian, Ranjith (20) of Assam, tried to evade the bus, but was killed on the spot after it ran over him.The bus then hit another mini tempo — injuring two others in the process — before finally coming to a halt after its front tyres got stuck in a ditch near the compound of a hospital in the area.Poonamallee traffic police, who filed a case, said the bus driver had returned to work after suffering from jaundice for four months. Sources said the driver was working on an empty stomach and developed convulsions before fainting on the wheel. According to an eyewitness, the driver was found unconscious and was foaming at the mouth after the mishap. “That’s why the public did not turn on the driver,” said an MTC crew member.A senior MTC official dismissed as rumours the initial reports that suggested that the driver had suffered fits. “At the same time, he was not under the influence of alcohol also, added the official.A police officer investigating the incident said, “We have arrested the driver and have referred him to the medical board. Though he had submitted a medical certificate to the branch manager at KK Nagar after joining work, they could have checked if he really was capable of driving a bus after four months, as it involved public safety.”Traffic police officials, who said that the Transport Commissioner would take action based on the medical report from the board, added that a month ago, another bus driver was earlier terminated from work after he reportedly caused an accident.“The mishap occurred at Poonamallee. When we referred him to the medical board, they found him unfit for work, as he did not have proper sight in one of his eyes. So, he was sacked from work,” the official said.