Thrissur: Around 18 people were injured after a private bus overturned at Puttekkara here on Friday. The injured were rushed to Amala Hospital.

The accident occurred around 5.15 am. The bus, which was heading to Thrissur from Kunnamkulam, rammed into a nearby tree, a car, and then the divider before overturning on the road. It is learnt that the driver lost control of the vehicle while trying to avoid a collision with the car, which had suddenly stopped in front of it. The overturned bus has completely blocked the road.

Traffic on the Kunnamkulam–Thrissur route which is part of the State Highway 69 came to a halt following the accident. The movement of heavy vehicles was restricted on this stretch. However, traffic was restored by 7.30 am after clearing the bus from the road.

A long queue of vehicles has been seen on the Thrissur–Kunnamkulam road since morning. Manorama News reported that some passengers on the bus suffered head injuries, but none are in serious condition.