Official sources said 50 people were drowned when a Rameswaram bound government bus from Tiruchirappalli was washed away in flash floods while crossing swollen Sirugani river at Janaveli, 40 kilometres from Ramanathapuram.

In the other mishap which occurred at Kondikulam, a private bus from Pattukottai to Aranthangi plunged into a canal at Kondikulam. Ten others, including the driver, managed to escape, the sources said adding all the bodies had been recovered.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, in a statement on Saturday, condoled the deaths of the 67 persons in the mishaps and announced a solatium of Rs 50,000 each to members of the deceased families.

Those who sustained serious injuries would be paid Rs 15,000 and those who had minor injuries would get Rs 6,000 each from the Chief Minister's public relief fund, she said.