Toddler falls off govt bus in Salem, dies

Salem: A nine-month-old baby boy fell off a moving govt bus and died near Sankari in the district on Monday night.

The Thevur police identified the deceased as Navaneesh, son of T Rajadurai (31)-Muthulakshmi (28) couple from Dharmapuri district.

An investigation officer said the couple were living in Coimbatore for the past two years. He said the incident took place when the couple, along with their daughter Sri Renuka, 7, and the son, were returning to Coimbatore after visiting their hometown for a week.

"The family boarded a bus and Muthulakshmi and Sri Renuka were seated behind the driver. Rajadurai was seated near the footboard and holding his son. As the bus approached Valaiyakaranoor on the Salem-Coimbatore National Highway around 10.30pm, the driver applied brakes suddenly, causing Rajadurai to lose his grip on the boy, who fell off the bus, suffering a head injury," the officer said.

Rajadurai and his family exited the bus and rushed the child to the govt hospital at Kumarapalayam in a private vehicle. At the hospital, doctors declared the toddler brought dead.

On Tuesday, Rajadurai lodged a complaint with the Thevur police, who registered a case and are inquiring.