In a shocking incident early Monday morning, at least 19 people died and four were injured when a gravel-laden tipper lorry collided head-on with a Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) bus near Chevella in Ranga Reddy district. The police reported that the tragic accident occurred around 6 AM, raising alarms across the state.
Officials stated that the tipper’s tremendous impact caused gravel to spill over the bus, resulting in passengers being trapped inside the mangled wreckage. Tragically, among the deceased were 10 women and the TSRTC bus driver, who was transporting commuters from Tandur to Hyderabad.
“We could not ascertain the total number of passengers on the bus immediately,” said a senior police officer. Many of the injured survivors remain in shock and struggle to provide any details.
Rescue teams arrived promptly after the accident, employing earthmovers to aid in relief operations. They worked tirelessly to free trapped passengers from the wreckage while swiftly transporting the injured to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed profound sorrow upon learning of the incident. He ordered Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao and DGP Shivadhar Reddy to supervise relief and rescue operations on a war footing. The Chief Minister additionally directed cabinet ministers to reach the accident site promptly and offer immediate assistance to the victims.
He assured that the injured passengers would be transferred to Hyderabad for advanced medical care and pledged that the state government would extend all possible support to affected families. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with community members gathering to assist rescuers in the aftermath of the accident.
According to preliminary investigations, authorities will review the collision circumstances to identify any potential recklessness or negligence leading to this tragic event. As families mourn their losses, local authorities will focus on enhancing road safety measures over heavy traffic routes.
