Post by : Rameen Ariff

In a tragic incident that shook Telangana on Monday morning, at least 24 people lost their lives and several others sustained injuries when a lorry carrying gravel collided head-on with a state-run Road Transport Corporation (RTC) bus in Ranga Reddy district. The accident occurred near Mirzaguda village in Chevella mandal, leaving behind scenes of devastation and sorrow.

According to police officials, the bus belonged to the Tandur depot and was en route to Hyderabad carrying around 70 passengers — mostly students and office-goers returning to the city after the weekend. The lorry, coming from the opposite direction, rammed into the bus before toppling over, causing its heavy gravel load to fall onto the vehicle.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as heart-wrenching, with passengers trapped under the debris and locals rushing to rescue them. Emergency teams, including three JCB excavators, were deployed to remove the debris and rescue those caught inside. Among the deceased are the drivers of both vehicles, several women, and a ten-month-old infant along with its mother.

Police said that 15 passengers, including the bus conductor, were pulled out alive and shifted to the Chevella Government Hospital. Those critically injured have been referred to hospitals in Hyderabad for advanced treatment. Officials warned that the death toll could rise further, as several victims remain in serious condition.

The impact of the collision brought traffic on the Hyderabad–Bijapur highway to a standstill, with long queues of vehicles piling up along the Chevella–Vikarabad route. Rescue operations were personally monitored by senior police officers at the site.

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed deep grief over the tragedy and directed officials to ensure swift rescue and relief measures. In a telephonic review with the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, the Chief Minister instructed all government departments to mobilize resources, dispatch ambulances, and deploy emergency medical teams at the site. He also ordered that the injured be immediately shifted to Hyderabad for better medical care.

Preliminary investigations indicate that overspeeding and loss of control by the lorry driver may have caused the crash. Authorities have launched a detailed probe to determine the exact cause.

The accident has once again highlighted the growing concern over road safety in the state, where overloaded lorries and rash driving continue to pose severe risks to commuters.

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