Hyderabad/Visakhapatnam: At least 24 people, including a three-month-old baby girl, were killed and several others injured in a tragic road accident in Telangana’s Ranga Reddy district on Monday morning.
The collision occurred around 7:30 a.m. on the Vikarabad–Hyderabad highway near Chevella, when a speeding tipper lorry traveling on the wrong side of the road rammed into a Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (RTC) bus.
The impact was so powerful that the gravel-laden truck overturned onto the bus, crushing its front portion completely and killing several passengers on the spot.
According to a preliminary police report, the lorry involved in the crash had two pending challans related to “no- entry” violations.
Rescue teams and local police rushed to the site immediately. Earthmovers were used to pull out passengers trapped inside the mangled bus.
The English daily The Hindu reported that, according to Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Superintendent of the Chevella Community Health Centre (CHC), 20 people have been confirmed dead so far.
“Twenty people have died in this accident, and their bodies have been brought to our mortuary,” said Dr. Prasad.
He added that six passengers sustained minor injuries and were being treated locally, while those in critical condition were shifted to Gandhi and Osmania Hospitals in Hyderabad.
Meanwhile, The New Indian Express reported that the death toll had risen to 24.
Following the accident, the state government launched a swift response. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy directed the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, and other top officials to reach the accident site, oversee rescue operations, and ensure that the injured were shifted immediately to major hospitals.
Expressing deep grief and sorrow, the Chief Minister extended condolences to the families of the victims. He instructed officials to ensure that relief measures and medical aid were carried out promptly and that no lapse occurred in assisting the victims.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar spoke with RTC Managing Director Nagi Reddy and the Ranga Reddy District Collector, directing them to investigate the cause of the crash and provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed grief over the tragedy, stating: “My thoughts are with the affected families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
The Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who died, and ₹50,000 each for the injured.
Police have launched a detailed investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash.