A devastating road accident in Telangana's Ranga Reddy district on Monday morning has sent shockwaves across the region. The horrific incident, which occurred near Mirzaguda in Chevella Mandal on the Hyderabad-Bijapur Highway, has resulted in the deaths of at least 20 people and left 24 others injured, five of whom are in critical condition. The accident unfolded when a high-speed tipper truck collided with a passenger bus and subsequently overturned onto it, trapping numerous passengers beneath the truck's load of gravel and sand.
The scene of the accident in the early hours of Monday was truly horrific, leaving onlookers stunned. According to reports, the passenger bus, belonging to the Tandur depot, was carrying over 40 passengers. On the Hyderabad-Bijapur Highway, a speeding tipper truck suddenly lost control. Initial investigations suggest that the truck driver lost control at a turn, leading to a direct collision with the bus. The impact was so severe that the tipper truck overturned and landed directly on top of the bus. The truck, laden with gravel and sand, spilled its contents directly onto the passengers inside the bus. Passengers had no time to react or save themselves and. Were instantly buried under the debris of gravel and sand.
Casualties and Injuries Detailed
So far, 20 fatalities have been confirmed in this tragic incident. The deceased include 18 passengers, along with the drivers of both the bus and the truck, while among the victims are 11 women and 9 men, including a one-year-old child, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the tragedy. Also, 24 individuals sustained injuries, with five of them reported to be in critical condition. Authorities fear that the death toll could rise further given. The severity of injuries sustained by some of the victims. The injured were immediately transported to the government hospital in Chevella for initial medical attention.
Rescue and Relief Operations Underway
Upon receiving news of the accident, local residents swiftly rushed to the scene to assist in extricating the trapped passengers. The police also arrived promptly and initiated large-scale rescue and relief operations without delay, while the rescue efforts proved to be extremely challenging due to the truck being overturned on the bus and passengers being buried under gravel and sand. A JCB machine had to be called in to aid in the rescue. With the help of the JCB, the bus windows were broken to facilitate the extraction of people trapped inside. Police and local administration worked in coordination to admit the injured to nearby hospitals.
Traffic Disruption and Chief Minister's Directives
This severe accident caused significant disruption to traffic flow between Chevella and Vikarabad. Long queues of vehicles formed on the highway, and it took considerable time to normalize the situation, while telangana Chief Minister Revanth expressed deep sorrow over the incident and immediately ordered officials to visit the accident site. The Chief Minister instructed the Chief Secretary and DGP to arrange for the immediate transfer of all injured individuals from the bus accident to Hyderabad for better medical treatment, while he also urged available ministers to reach the accident site promptly and directed the District Collector to expedite rescue operations and take all necessary steps. The Chief Minister emphasized the importance of ensuring that the injured receive the best possible medical assistance.