The tourist van that collided with a tourist bus on Theni-Dindigul bypass road on Thursday night.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Three persons, including a seven year old boy, were killed in a road accident in Theni district on Thursday night after a van and private bus collided. Fourteen others were seriously injured in the accident.

According to police, Ayyappa devotees from Elampillai in Salem district were on their way to Sabarimala for a darshan on the private bus, while devotees from Hosur were returning from Sabarimala to their hometown on the van. The two vehicles collided near Theni-Dindigul bypass road at around 10 p.m. on Thursday. The front side of the vehicles were severely damaged.

Allinagaram police along with the Fire and Rescue Services Personnel rushed to the spot. The deceased have been identified as G. Nagaraj, 40, R. Surya, 23, and G. Ganesh, 7. The three deceased were travelling in the van at the time of the accident. They died on the way to Theni Government Medical College Hospital. The injured are receiving treatment at the hospital.