Chennai: Eight people died after a tourist bus carrying 55 passengers fell 50 feet into a gorge near a bridge in Ooty's Coonoor on Saturday night.

Around 35 passengers have been admitted to the Government Hospital nearby, of whom four are in critical condition.

The deceased are V Nithin (15), S Babykala (36), S Murugesan (65), P Muppidathe (67) and R Kausalya (29). The other three are yet to be identified. 

All passengers are from Thenkasi and they were returning from Ooty when tragedy struck.

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As per preliminary reports, the driver of the tourist bus lost control of the vehicle while navigating the ninth hairpin bend along the Mettupalayam-Coonoor road. A rescue operation is underway.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin announced an ex-gratia of Rs 8 lakh for the kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh for the grievously injured and Rs 50,000 for the others.

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