At least twenty people, including 13 women and a young girl, were killed and several others injured when a gravel-laden tipper lorry collided head-on with a Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) bus near Chevella in Ranga Reddy district on Monday morning. 

The accident occurred on the Hyderabad–Bijapur National Highway when the truck, carrying gravel, rammed into a TSRTC bus from the Tandur depot. The bus was on its maiden trip and had many passengers on board. As it neared Mirzaguda, the speeding lorry struck the bus, overturning and spilling its entire load onto it. 

The impact crushed the front portion of the bus and buried several passengers under tons of gravel, leading to multiple fatalities. Both the bus and truck drivers died on the spot. 

Cyberabad Police registered a case and launched an investigation into the collision. Police Commissioner Avinash Mohanty said the exact cause would be determined after a formal inquiry, noting that head-on crashes often occur when a vehicle strays onto the wrong side of the road.

Rescue teams immediately swung into action, using earthmovers to clear the gravel and extricate passengers. The injured were taken to Chevella Government Hospital for emergency treatment, with many later referred to major hospitals in Hyderabad. 

Doctors reported that victims sustained multiple fractures, as well as severe facial and leg injuries.

A survivor recounted the harrowing moments: “I was dozing when a loud thud woke me. Gravel buried half the bus. Some of us escaped through a broken window, but many behind the driver couldn’t make it.”

Conductor’s side passengers survive, driver’s side perish

Most passengers seated behind the driver perished, while those behind the conductor survived. The survivor seated three rows behind the conductor, explained, ‘The tipper lorry came from the opposite direction. I was on the left side of the bus. We managed to climb out, but those behind the driver couldn’t. I escaped through a window along with six others, and some broke additional windows to rescue more people.’  

Government orders inquiry, announces Rs 7 lakh ex-gratia 

Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, who visited the hospital, confirmed that 72 passengers were on the bus. The state government announced ex-gratia payments of Rs 5 lakh for each victim’s family and Rs 2 lakh from TSRTC, while injured passengers will receive Rs 2 lakh each. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy directed officials to provide immediate relief and advanced medical care, and ordered an inquiry into the accident.

IT Minister Sridhar Babu added that both a magisterial inquiry and a departmental investigation had been initiated to determine the cause.

PM Modi announces Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for families of deceased

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident, announcing ex-gratia payments of Rs 2 lakh each for families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for the injured, while extending condolences and prayers for recovery.

Post-mortem examinations at the Chevella Community Health Centre have been completed, and the bodies have been handed over to the families. Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Union Ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, and BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao also expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. 

Narrow road, stalled widening work led to accident, claims MLA 

Telangana MLA Kale Yadaiah attributed the accident to the narrow road and delayed widening work. He explained that although the road expansion project was approved five years ago, it was stalled due to environmental concerns raised in the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The busy Bijapur–Manneguda road remained narrow, increasing accident risks. Work on widening resumed just two days ago after petitioners withdrew their objections.