6 killed, 17 injured as private EV bus hits truck in Telangana

Six people, five of them women, were killed and 17 others injured when a private electric bus they were travelling in collided with a truck in Telangana's Suryapet district on Wednesday morning, police said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the deaths in the accident.

"Distressed to learn about the mishap in Suryapet, Telangana. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured," the PMO said in a post on X.

The accident occurred in Kodad mandal on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada National Highway at around 5 am when the private bus, carrying 44 passengers, rammed into the rear of a truck while travelling from Hyderabad to Eluru in Andhra Pradesh, police said.

"Six people, including five women, were killed on the spot, while 17 others were injured and shifted to various hospitals," a police official said.

Suryapet District Superintendent of Police K Narasimha told reporters that the truck, which was carrying large iron pillars used in factories, lost control, hit the road divider and came to rest on it.

The bus then collided with the truck, causing the iron pillars to strike its right side and killing those seated in the front, he said.

Two of the injured were in serious condition and were shifted to a hospital in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, the SP said.

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed condolences over the deaths and sympathised with the bereaved families.

He directed Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju to take necessary measures to provide advanced medical care to the injured, a release said.

Based on a preliminary investigation, police suspect overspeeding caused the accident.

The deceased belonged to different districts of Andhra Pradesh, and two of them were software professionals, a police release said.

Further investigation is underway, police added.