Nine persons were killed and several injured after a tourist bus fell into a gorge near Barliyar, Ooty in Tamil Nadu on Saturday, September 30. The bus carrying 54 tourists, natives of Kadayam from Tenkasi, visited Ooty hill station for weekend vacation. They were on their way back home when the driver lost control of the vehicle and it fell into a gorge in Marappalam near Coonoor in the Nilgiris at 5.15 pm. The rescue operation is underway. 

The state government has set up a toll-free number to provide information on the status of passengers involved in the mishap. Family members can dial 1077 and 0423 2450034 for more information. 

Only seven victims have been identified so far. They are Muppudathi (67), Murugesan (65), Elango (64), Devikala (42), Kowsalya (29),  Nitin (15), and Pandithai. The rescued tourists were shifted to Coonoor government hospital for first aid. As per reports, six women, two men, and one teenager died in the accident. While 42 persons are being treated in Coonoor Hospital, critically injured patients was shifted to Coimbatore Government Medical College Hospital and Ooty Government Medical College.

Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister K Ramachandran visited the accident spot and monitored the rescue operation. Later, he visited the tourists who were shifted to the Coonoor hospital. 

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced Rs 2 lakh ex gratia to the family members who lost their loved ones in the accident. A sum of Rs 1 lakh as ex gratia has also been announced to those who are critically injured and getting treatment. The government has also announced an immediate relief of Rs 50,000 each to those who were injured in the accident from the Chief Minister Relief Fund.  To avoid traffic congestion, the Nilgiris district administration asked the passengers who were traveling from and to Nilgiris to take the Kotagiri route to reach Mettupalayam and Ooty.