It was a "black  Thursday" for 48 passengers, majority of them Keralites, who travelled in a state-run bus that collided with a container lorry in Tirupur district of neighbouring Tamil Nadu in the wee hours.

Health minister K K Shailaja informed that 20 ambulances would reach the accident site to bring back the injured and also the deceased. 10 Kanivu ambulances and 10 ordinary ambulances would be sent to Tamil Nadu. The minister said that the injured would be brought here and given treatment.

Two minister V S Sunilkumar and A K Saseendran have already left for Avinashi on the direction of the chief minister. They will coordinate the relief measures.

The CMO said it was in regular touch with Tirupur district administration and efforts were on to identify the bodies.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala expressed grief over the death.  Chennithala requested the Kerala – Tamil Nadu governments to extend all help to the injured immediately.