In a horrifying accident, at least 55 people were killed and 33 others were injured when an overcrowded bus overturned and fell into a gorge in Jagtiyal district of Telangana, 190 kms north of Hyderabad, on Tuesday morning. The bus belonged to the Telangana Road Transport Corporation.
There were 88 people in the bus at the time of the accident against the capacity of 40.
Most of the passengers were from the surrounding villages and belonged to the poorer sections.
There were 32 women and at least four children among the dead. Twenty-three deceased women were in the age group of 50 to 75.
State Transport Minister P Mahender Reddy has immediately suspended the Jagtiyal Depot Manager Hanumanta Rao. “The bus was carrying more passengers than allowed and the brake failure appears to be cause of the accident”, the Minister said explaining why the action was taken against the official.
Revenue Divisional Officer Narendar said the accident occurred when the bus was coming down from a hilltop temple at Kondagattu and the driver lost control while negotiating a sharp turn and crossing a speed breaker.
“A probe has been ordered into the cause of the accident”, he said.
The victims include 25 women and seven children. 25 died on the spot and others succumbed in Jagatiyal Government hospital. Seven critically injured were shifted to hospitals in Hyderabad and Karimnagar while 17 were being treated in local hospital.
The bus no. AP 28 Z 2319 belonging to Jagatiyal depot was coming from Shanivarpet to Jagatiyal via Kondagattu. As there was a huge rush of pilgrims at the Hanuman temple atop the hill and fewer buses available more than 70 passengers boarded the bus against the capacity of 40.
According to the police the accident occurred at around 11:30 am when the bus was about to come out of the difficult Ghat section of the road. “The bus was very close to come onto the highway and was crossing over the last speed breaker when the driver lost control and the bus turned on one side and then fell into the gorge”, said one of the survivors.
Jagtiyal Superintendent of Police Sindhu Sharma, who rushed with the police force for the rescue operation said the real cause of the accident will be known only after thorough probe.
But the eyewitnesses and local people said a combination of factors including the driver's error and the negligence by the administration led to the tragedy.
They said that the Ghat Road was not the main route between the Kondagutta and Jagatiyal and there was an alternate bypass road. “The Ghat Road was closed for the buses and other heavy vehicles after 20 people died in earlier accident involving a lorry”, another local person said. “But the road was again opened for buses three months ago as by pass road was 5 kms longer”.
The other reason was the driver Srinivas was new to the route and failed to apply the brakes while crossing the speed breaker which did not have any mark. When the bus hit the speed breaker with full speed some of the passengers staking close to him fell on the driver and he lost control over the bus veering sharply on one side.
Most of the passengers died under the weight of others. The driver lost both his legs.
As soon as the bus fell into gorge the other passerby and the local people rushed to rescue the injured.
The police and the revenue department officials joined the efforts later on.
With the heaps of dead body at the scene of accident there were heart rending scenes at the site of the accident as a large number of people crowded the place. The screams and cries of the near and dear ones of the dead echoed in Jagatiyal hospital where all the bodies were shifted later.
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has expressed deep shock and grief over the loss of life and announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of the victims.
In a message CM expressed deep condolences on the loss of lives and injuries to others. He further directed the officials concerned to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured.
State Minister for industries K Taraka Rama Rao and the local MP K Kavita were among the senior leaders who have reached Jagatiyal to supervise the relief measures. District Collector A Sharat, Superintendent of Police Sindhu Sharma and the Karimnagar city Police Commissioner Kamalahasan Reddy were also involved in the rescue and relief measures.