Twelve people were killed and 40 others injured after two Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) buses collided near Nachiyarpuram at Thirupathur in Sivaganga district on Sunday.
Police said a bus travelling from Karaikudi to Devakottai and another heading from Devakottai to Dindigul collided near Vivekananda Polytechnic College. 
The driver of one of the buses, P. Sendrayan, 36, of Batlagundu, died on the spot.
The injured were admitted to government hospitals in Karaikudi, Thirupathur, and Sivaganga. 
Six critically injured passengers were shifted to the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai.
Authorities identified several among the deceased, including M. Chellam, 55, of Chokkalingapuram near Singampunari; V. Mallika, 61, of Ariyakudi near Karaikudi; S. Muthumari, 60, of Singampunari; R. Kalpana, 36, of Karaikudi; D. Gunalakshmi, 55, from the Sri Lankan Tamils rehabilitation camp at Devakottai; and A. Deivanai, 55, of Pudukkottai.
Local residents alerted police and assisted in rescuing passengers trapped inside the mangled buses. 
Two bodies were placed at the Sivaganga Government Hospital, six at the Thirupathur Government Hospital, and three at the Karaikudi Government Hospital. 
A Health Department official said doctors from Sivaganga and neighbouring districts were deployed to support emergency treatment.
Preliminary investigations indicated that both buses were travelling at high speed on a narrow stretch of road. 
Fire and Rescue Services teams reached the scene to extract those trapped in the wreckage. 
Sivaganga Superintendent of Police R. Shiva Prasad also arrived to coordinate rescue operations.
In Chennai, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed condolences and directed immediate relief measures. 
He deputed Minister K.R. Periakaruppan and the Sivaganga Collector to supervise rescue and medical assistance. 
In a statement, the Chief Minister announced ₹3 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased, ₹1 lakh for those with serious injuries, and ₹50,000 for those with minor injuries.
He said additional medical teams were mobilised and sent to hospitals in Karaikudi, Sivaganga, and Thirupathur, and that patients requiring advanced care were shifted to Madurai.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami also condoled the deaths and urged the government to ensure proper treatment for the injured. 
He appealed for strict adherence to road safety guidelines in light of repeated bus accidents.

Wrecked TNSTC buses surrounded by rescue teams

Head-on TNSTC bus crash in Sivaganga kills 12 and injures 40 passengers

Govt Steps Up Relief Measures After Bus Mishap

Head-on TNSTC bus crash in Sivaganga kills 12 and injures 40 passengers

December 1, 2025 | 11:38 IST