19 killed in T’gana bus-lorry collision

At least 19 people, including a three-month-old girl, were killed and 24 others injured when a tipper lorry carrying gravel collided head-on with a state-run bus in Ranga Reddy district of Telangana on Monday morning, police said.

- Srinivasa Rao Apparasu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident, and announced ex gratia to the families of the victims.

The incident took place near Chevella block, about 60km from Hyderabad, at around 7am, when the lorry collided with the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) bus, which was heading towards Hyderabad with 70 passengers on board, the state government said in a release.

The lorry, loaded with gravel and hard stone chips, lost control while overtaking multiple vehicles, veering directly into the path of the oncoming bus. The impact caused extensive damage to the bus, with a large volume of gravel and dust pouring into the passenger compartment, the release said, adding this led to passengers being trapped, resulting in severe breathing difficulties, multiple injuries, and fatalities. The drivers of both the bus as well as the tipper, along with 17 passengers, including 10 women and an infant, died on the spot. Several others sustained injuries, police said.