A DMK MLA has met with an accident on Thursday - July 28 while he was on his way to attend the inaugural event of the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai. Along with his drive, the lawmaker was injured and he was rushed to a private hospital. 

According to our sources, DMK MLA Venkatachalam, who is representing the Andhiyur assembly constituency in the Erode district, was met with an accident near Bhavani. He was driving to the Erode Railway Station from Andhiyur to reach Chennai by train. When his car reached Vaikkalpalayam near Bhavani, it has lost its control and toppled.

The accident injured three people including the MLA, who sustained a severe injury in his bone. He has been getting treated at a private hospital in Coimbatore. The inaugural event of the Chess Olympiad will be held at 6 pm on Thursday at Nehru Indoor stadium in Chennai. The event will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister MK Stalin. 

A day ahead of the visit, Modi said that he is looking forward to visiting Chennai and cited that it's an honour for the country that the Chess Olympiad is being held in Tamil Nadu, which has a glorious association with chess. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister took to Twitter and wrote, "I am looking forward to being in Chennai for the inauguration of the 44th Chess Olympiad at 6 PM tomorrow evening. This is a special tournament and it is our honour that it is being held in India, that too in Tamil Nadu, which has a glorious association with chess." 

On Wednesday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin took to Twitter and wrote, "Just 1 day to go for #ChessChennai2022. Chennai is all set to host one of the biggest sporting events in its nearly four centuries of existence." "It's time to say #WelcomeToChennai and show the world our hospitality. Let's make history!", he added. It is pertinent to note that Chennai has become the first Indian city to host Chess Olympiad and for the next two weeks, monumental Mahabalipuram will be the world for chessers from across the globe.