52 killed in Telangana as bus falls into gorge

In one of the goriest accidents in Telangana, 52 passengers including 32 women and four children, were killed and 30 were injured when a Telangana Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) bus fell into a gorge on Tuesday morning.

The fully packed bus belonging to the Jagtial depot with around 86 passengers was coming down from the famous Kondagattu Hanuman temple in Telangana.

Most of the causalities were at the front end of the bus where many bodies were found crushed by the impact of the accident. The police suspect the accident took place due to brake failure while the driver was negotiating the last turn on the ghat road downhill around 11.30 am, minutes before reaching the highway.

No technical snag

A few survivors, however, said the driver lost control over the vehicle as he had shifted to neutral gear while coming down the ghat road. The driver Srinivas died and conductor Parameshwar, who was issuing tickets at that time, was injured. TSRTC officials who ruled out technical problems say that the driver was not supposed to bring the Jagtial-Sanivarampet bus on the ghat road.

The bodies have been shifted to the Jagtial government hospital. The injured have been shifted to Karimnagar. While villagers quickly jumped into action and rescued the victims, Jagtial collector Sharath and superintendent of police Sindhu Sharma rushed to the spot with the police forces to take up rescue operations.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao expressed shock over the accident. He directed officials to provide medical assistance to the injured. State Finance Minister Eatala Rajender rushed to the spot which is 177 km from here. The government has announced Rs 5 lakh ex gratia to the kin of the deceased.

“The TSRTC will also announce ex gratia. If there are farmers among the victims, then there will be an additional Rs 5 lakh from the farmer’s insurance scheme,” Rajender said, adding that anyone with TRS membership will get Rs 2 lakh compensation.