The occupants of the car were returning from a temple in Thirukadaiyur when a state government bus proceeding to Tiruchirappalli from Tiruppur came in the opposite direction and both the vehicles collided head on near Olapalayam on the national highway early today, police said.

Chandrasekaran, 60, of Nallikaundan Nagar, his wife Chitra, 57, his elder daughter-in-law Aruvivithra, 30, the latter’s three-months old daughter, and his younger son Ilavarasan, 26, who was driving the car, died instantly due to the impact of the collision.

Chandrasekaran’s elder son and husband of Aruvivithra, Sasidharan, has been admitted to a hospital with serious injuries.

The police have registered a case and are investigating.