10-month-old baby and 10 women among 19 killed as truck rams into government bus near Hyderabad

The police stated that the bus, which departed from the Tandur RTC Depot, was overloaded with nearly 70 passengers. They added that the truck also appeared to be overloaded, carrying an estimated 50-60 tonnes of goods, and was speeding.

“The gravel from the bus fell into the truck once the collision happened. This aggravated the situation and caused more casualties,” a Hyderabad police officer told The Indian Express earlier in the day.

The bus was hired from a private vendor and assigned a route by the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRRC), authorities said on Monday.

“It’s based on tenders that we hired the bus. Only the conductor was provided by the RTC, and the driver was hired by the private vendor,” a TSRRC official from Chevella confirmed to The Indian Express.

‘They spent the weekend with their families’

Tandur MLA B Manohar Reddy told The Indian Express that a man, his daughter, and his granddaughter were among those identified so far.

“Nine of the 19 victims identified so far are from Tandur. It’s a big tragedy for my constituency,” Manohar Reddy said.

The bus was carrying a number of people working and living in Hyderabad who had gone to their native places in Vikarabad and Tandur for the weekend, and were travelling back Monday morning.

“Several students and employees returning to Hyderabad were on board that bus. They had spent the weekend with their families at their homes in Tandur and were returning to Hyderabad,” Reddy said.

‘Deeply saddening’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths of those killed in the accident, and said an ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh would be given to the next of kin of each victim, and the injured would be given Rs. 50,000 from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

“The loss of lives due to a mishap in the Rangareddy district of Telangana is deeply saddening. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the Prime Minister’s Office posted on X.

The state government also announced ex gratia of Rs 7 lakh each to the families of the deceased, and financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to those injured.

Earlier in the day, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy “instructed the officials to immediately reach the spot and take necessary relief measures”.

Revanth Reddy instructed Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao and Director General of Police Shivadhar Reddy to shift all the injured people to Hyderabad for better medical treatment. While top officials were instructed to visit the accident spot with available ministers immediately, the Ranga Reddy district collector was ordered to intensify the relief measures and take all necessary steps for that.

The Telangana chief minister ordered special arrangements to be made at Gandhi and Osmania hospitals to provide adequate treatment to those injured in the accident. He also ordered that medical teams be made available to save all those in critical condition.

Telangana IT and Industries Minister, and In-Charge Minister for the erstwhile Ranga Reddy district, Duddilla Sridhar Babu, expressed deep shock and anguish over the accident near Mirzaguda in Chevella mandal. The minister issued a statement, stating that he immediately notified the Ranga Reddy district collector, the police, and senior officers from the relevant departments.

“He sought a detailed report on how the accident occurred and the present condition of the injured. He issued directions on the relief and rescue operations, instructing officials to reach the accident site without delay and personally supervise the rescue efforts,” the minister said.

The minister also instructed the senior officials of the Medical and Health Department to “ensure the best possible treatment” for the injured at the Chevella Government Hospital.

“He held a teleconference with the relevant authorities to monitor the situation and review the measures being taken. He further directed officials overseeing the rescue operations to reassure the victims and their families that the government stands firmly by them. He instructed that complete information about every injured person must be promptly communicated to their family members,” the statement added.

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