19 killed as tipper collides with RTC bus in Ranga Reddy
CHEVELLA: Nineteen people, including 12 women, seven men, and a child, were killed when an overloaded tipper lorry rammed into a Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (RTC) bus near Mirzaguda in Ranga Reddy district on Sunday. More than 20 others were injured in the collision.
According to police, the tipper, carrying nearly 50 – 60 tonnes of gravel from Shadnagar to Chittampalli Gate in Vikarabad, was speeding when the driver lost control while trying to avoid a pothole and crashed head on into the bus. Both the tipper and RTC drivers died on the spot. The bus was travelling from Tandur to Hyderabad with around 70 passengers on board.
The impact caused the gravel load to topple onto the bus, trapping and suffocating several passengers. Local residents and passers by rushed to the scene to rescue the injured and retrieve bodies buried under the debris. Ambulances and police teams reached soon after and shifted the injured to hospitals in Vikarabad and Hyderabad. Officials said the toll could rise as some passengers remain in critical condition.
Transport minister Ponnam Prabhakar, who visited the accident site, expressed deep shock over the tragedy. He announced ₹7 lakh ex gratia for the families of each victim and directed officials to ensure the best possible medical care for the injured. He also spoke to RTC managing director Nagi Reddy and instructed senior officials to conduct an immediate inquiry.
Preliminary reports suggested the tipper was overloaded and travelling at high speed. Officials confirmed that negligence and overloading were key causes of the crash.
The deceased were identified as RTC driver Dastagiri, Baba Tarabai of Dannaram Tanda, Emavath Talibam of Dannaram Tanda, Kalpana of Borabanda, Bachan Nagamani of Bhanur, Mallagandla Hanumanthu of Daulatabad, Gurrala Abhitha of Yalal, Gogula Gunamma of Borabanda, Sheikh Khalid Hussain of Tandur, and Tabassum Jahan of Tandur, among others.
