Thanjavur: At least 10 women passengers, including the headmistress of a government higher secondary school, were injured when the minibus in which they were travelling overturned near Papanasam today.

The ill-fated minibus was on its way to Papanasam from Pullapoothangudi. The driver, Anand, was reportedly busy talking on his mobile. While trying to negotiate a bend on the road at North Umayalpuram village, the driver lost control of the vehicle, and it overturned and fell into a nearby agriculture land.

In the mishap, 10 passengers – Pullapoongudi Government Higher Secondary School headmistress Kalaiyarasi (50), Murugeswari (24), Subha (28), Nagarathinam (45), Savithri (42), Jaya (30), Vasuki (32), Prema (38), Lakshmi (45), and Rukmani (40) were grievously injured.

All the injured were rushed and admitted to the Kumbakonam Government Hospital. The driver fled the scene as soon s the accident occurred. The Kabisthalam police have registered a case and a search is on for the absconding driver.