Five women were killed in a tragic road accident near Thiruporur in Chengalpattu district near Chennai on Wednesday afternoon.
A speeding car lost control and rammed into them when they were sitting on the roadside.
The deceased, identified as M Andhaayi (71), C Logammal (56), G Yasodha (54), S Vijaya (53), K Gowri (52), were sitting by the road after letting their cattle graze the nearby fields.
Four college students were in the car at the time of accident. The police have arrested two of them, including the one who was at the wheel; a search is on to nab the other two who fled the spot. Soon after the accident, the villagers nearby caught hold of the two youths and thrashed them before police reached the spot.
The women were a group of neighbours from Payanoor village. As the car rammed into them, two of them were flung a few feet away. After the accident, the villagers surrounded the car. While two of them escaped, villagers caught hold of Johsua and Ahmed.
Later in the day, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin condoled the deaths and announced a solatium of Rs. 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased.