In a tragic road accident early Monday morning, at least 19 people were killed and four others sustained injuries when a gravel-laden tipper lorry collided head-on with a Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) bus near Chevella in Telangana’s Ranga Reddy district, police said.
The horrific accident occurred as the bus was en route from Tandur to Hyderabad. Witnesses described the devastating impact, which caused the gravel to spill over the bus, trapping many passengers inside the damaged vehicle.
Among the deceased, 10 women lost their lives, along with the bus driver. A senior police officer noted that “the total number of passengers in the bus could not be ascertained immediately,” adding that the survivors were in shock and unable to provide details.
Rescue teams swiftly arrived at the scene to execute relief operations, using earthmovers to extract passengers trapped in the wreckage. The injured were quickly transported to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed profound sorrow over the incident, directing Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao and DGP Shivadhar Reddy to oversee rescue operations with urgency. He also instructed cabinet ministers to reach the accident site to ensure immediate assistance for the victims.
In light of the tragedy, the Chief Minister ordered that the injured passengers be shifted to Hyderabad for advanced medical care, assuring support for all affected families. “The government will provide all possible assistance to those in need,” he stated.
This incident highlights the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures, especially in rural areas where heavy vehicles frequently share roads with public transport. The community mourns the loss of lives in this heartbreaking event.
