NAMAKKAL: Three young sisters and their 11-year-old cousin riding on a moped died after a private college bus collided with their vehicle at Elachipalayam near Tiruchengode in Namakkal district on Thursday.The deceased were identified as S Kalaichelvi, 19, a second-year student at a government college; her sisters Nivedha, 15, a Class XI student, and Dhanushree, 11, a Class VII student; and their cousin R Abinaya, 11, a Class VI student. All four were residents of Sakkarampalayam.Kalaichelvi picked her sisters and Abinaya from their school near Elachipalayam and was returning home on the moped when the bus crashed into their two-wheeler. In the impact, all the four were thrown off the moped.While Kalaichelvi and Nivedha died on the spot, Dhanushree and Abinaya died on the way to a hospital, Elachipalayam police said.The bus belongs to a private educational institution near Rasipuram.Kalaichelvi, Nivedha and Dhanushree were daughters of vegetable traders Sekar and Amudha. Abinaya was the daughter of Sekar’s brother Rameshbabu and Vasantha. Elachipalayam police have registered a case.Meanwhile, bus driver Praveen, 30, of Rasipuram, surrendered at the Tiruchengode police station.Former district collector S Uma has been supporting Kalaichelvi’s education as her father is suffering from cancer.
