Coimbatore: Sreelakshmi Menon, who survived the Coimbatore bus mishap which claimed the lives of 19 people, said all passengers were fast asleep when the container rammed the bus on the national highway on Thursday early morning.  As it was pitch dark inside, I was unable to see things clearly. I escaped miraculously, Sreelakshmi told mathrubhumi.com.

Sreelakshmi was travelling alone in the bus and was seated beside the conductor’s seat. She was bound for Thrissur. Till she had gone to sleep, the conductor too was seated on his seat but was not sure if he continued to occupy the same seat. But now, I hear from news that the conductor lost his life in the accident.

I do not remember anything that happened in the collision. I could recollect only the huge impact of the bus when the container hit the vehicle. Immediately after the mishap, local people rushed into rescue efforts. The ambulance took all injured to hospital. First aid was given to those who sustained only minor injuries in the mishap.

I do not remember the details of my co-travellers and most of the passengers who were seated on the right side of the bus bore the brunt of the collision.

Sreelakshmi was first taken to a nearby hospital Revathy as she had only a minor bruise on her leg. She was discharged soon and now she is at her friend’s place in Tiruppur. After her family members arrive, Sreelakshmi would leave for Kerala along with them.

The bodies of 11 persons have been identified and 23 are still undergoing treatment at different hospitals. Besides the driver and conductor, there were 48 people who were on board. Most of the passengers were from Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad.