In a harrowing incident on highway in southern India, a private bus overturned and burst into flames after colliding with a moped, leaving four passengers injured and claiming the life of the moped rider.

The accident took place on Salem-Coimbatore National Highway near Sankari town in Salem district on November 9.

Visuals showed the overturned bus engulfed in fierce flames and thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

According to reports, the bus was on its way from Chennai to Coimbatore when, around 6:30 a.m., an elderly man attempted to cross the highway on a moped. The bus driver, trying to avoid a collision, braked suddenly but struck the two-wheeler, causing the bus to topple onto the road. The moped rider, identified as P. Periyasamy, 60, sustained fatal injuries and died on the spot.

Passengers managed to escape the burning vehicle with the assistance of locals and fellow travelers. Shortly after the bus overturned, a fuel tank leak led to the fire. Police and fire services arrived swiftly, suspending traffic on the highway. Firefighters brought the blaze under control within 30 minutes, but the bus was completely gutted.

The injured passengers were taken to the local hospital for treatment, while Periyasamy’s body was sent for postmortem. Traffic on the national highway was halted for over 40 minutes as emergency services worked to clear the scene.