"He was very careful. He always wore a helmet. He even had insurance. Only because of that bus, he died."
Twenty-seven-year-old Shanmugasundaram, who was grievously injured after a giant signboard fell on him on Sunday, 7 August, succumbed to his injuries on Monday morning. He leaves behind a 25-year-old wife, a four-year-old daughter and a four-month-old son, his cousin Muthu tells TNM.
Muthu says that Shanmugasundaram was the only breadwinner in his family. Hailing from Magamaipuram village near Pudhukottai, Shanmugasundaram migrated to Chennai in search of work around three years ago. He made a living by delivering ice cream to distributors and often picked up odd jobs he could find.
'His Wife Must Be Given a Govt Job To Support Family': Man's Cousin Muthu
"His family still lives in a thatched house in his village, that leaks every monsoon. He was hoping to save money to build a better home for them. The Tamil Nadu government has promised his family Rs 3 lakhs as ex gratia but how long can they live on that money?"
"His wife must be given a government job according to her qualifications so that she can support the family," Muthu says, adding that Shanmugasundaram’s wife has studied up to standard Class 12.
Shanmugasundaram and one another person, a mini-truck driver named Sathyanarayanan, were injured after the giant signboard fell on them in Chennai. Shanmugasundaram sustained grievous injuries and succumbed on Monday morning, while Sathyanarayan received minor injuries and is undergoing treatment.
The approximately 30-foot-high pillar signboard, which gives directions for those coming from Tambaram, fell directly on Shanmugasundaram who was travelling on a two-wheeler. Visuals from the site of the accident show the two-wheeler completely crushed under the heavy steel pillar. The pillar completely blocked the road for a while before it was cleared.
Visuals also show that the signboard itself had crashed down onto the opposite side of the road.
The accident appears to have been caused by a government bus heading towards Koyambedu from Perangalathur, which lost control and rammed into the giant signboard.
Eyewitnesses say the driver lost control of the vehicle and rammed it into the base of the signboard, which was close to the pavement. The driver and the conductor of the bus fled the spot after the accident.
Eyewitnesses earlier told the police that the bus was speeding and the accident occurred when the driver was trying to negotiate at a curve. The police have launched an investigation into the accident.
(Published in arrangement with The News Minute.)
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