At least nine people, including five students, have been killed and more than 38 others injured in a head-on collision between two buses in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
The tragedy occurred in the state’s Palakkad district when one of the two buses attempted to overtake a private car, according to a top government Minister.
“Nine people, including five students and a teacher, were killed in the accident,” Road Transport Minister Antony Raju told the local media on Thursday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to offer his condolences to the families of those killed in the accident.
“PM @narendramodi has expressed grief on the loss of lives due to an accident in Kerala’s Palakkad district. He extends condolences to the bereaved families and prays for a quick recovery of the injured,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted.
A probe has been ordered into the accident, the Road Transport Minister said.
Road accidents are common in India, with one taking place every four minutes. These accidents are often blamed on poor roads, rash driving and scant regard for traffic laws.
The Indian government’s implementation of stricter traffic laws in recent years has failed to rein in accidents, which claim over 100,000 lives every year.
Source: United News of Bangladesh