Nine people were killed and four injured, including two children, in a road accident near Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday. A Chennai-bound government bus from Tiruchirappalli suffered a tyre burst, causing it to veer across the median and collide head-on with two oncoming vehicles. Seven occupants of these private vehicles were among the deceased. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed shock, announced ex-gratia payments of Rs 3 lakh for each deceased and Rs 1 lakh for the injured, and ordered best medical care for those hospitalized.