Chennai: About 30 passengers have been injured after a bus, number 17-M, fell off the Anna Gemini flyover in the heart of Chennai. Police are trying to ascertain whether the driver was over speeding and lost control of the bus as he negotiated a bend on the flyover this afternoon.

There were about 60 passengers in the bus. No casualty has been reported. All passengers have been taken out of the bus and the injured have been taken to the nearest hospitals. Police say there are no reports of any major injuries, but passengers with the slightest complaint have been taken to hospital and are now under observation.

The bus was travelling from Broadway to Vada Palani. It crashed into the flyover wall, broke through and tumbled down about 12 to 14 feet. The accident happened in the afternoon, which is fortunately not rush traffic hour. So no vehicles were driving down fast where the bus fell and, eyewitnesses say, a catastrophe was averted.

Traffic around the flyover, which is part of an arterial stretch, came to a halt and there were reports of jams and chaos. Vehicles were stranded on either side for some time, but have been diverted now. Traffic on the flyover is now back to normal.

The bus is lying on its side, shattered glass and crowds of people around it. Fire and rescue teams have climbed atop the bus now and are trying to remove the bus. The Gemini flyover is in the middle of Chennai close to the US embassy. The presence of hundreds of curious onlookers hampered work initially; they are now being dispersed.