Pudukottai: In a tragic incident, two persons died and more than 20 others were injured when a state-owned Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus ploughed into a crowd at a bustling weekly market at Rajalipatti village under Viralimalai police limits today.
The TNSTC bus was on its way to Palani in Dindigul district from Pudukottai when the mishap occurred. The bus lost control of the driver due to an apparent brake failure. On noticing the failure of brakes, the driver alerted the passengers and shouted at the crowd flocked at the weekly market (shandy) to run away for safety.
The bus, however, ploughed into the crowd and ran over some two-wheelers parked there and finally a milk van before it came to a halt.
In the mishap, Subban (64), a poultry trader, was crushed to death on the spot and Selvaraj (51) died after being admitted to government hospital in Manapparai.
All other injured were admitted to the government and private hospitals in Manapparai.
Viralimalai police have registered a case and further investigation is on.