A day after the Srikakulam temple stampede shook Andhra Pradesh, tragedy struck again, this time in neighbouring Telangana, where a bus–truck collision claimed 20 lives and left several injured on Monday morning.
The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) bus collided head-on with a gravel-laden truck on the Hyderabad–Bijapur highway near Chevella in Ranga Reddy district around 7:30 a.m. Among the victims were a 10-month-old baby, 10 women, and both drivers.
The bus, travelling from Tandur to Hyderabad with about 70 passengers, was crushed when the speeding truck rammed into it, causing the gravel load to spill inside. Many passengers were trapped under the debris as rescue teams and locals struggled to pull survivors from the mangled vehicle.
Police said the impact destroyed the six front rows on the driver’s side, while most passengers seated on the conductor’s side survived.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed deep sorrow and directed officials to expedite relief and medical aid. Opposition leader K. T. Rama Rao (BRS) urged a full probe and tighter enforcement of road safety rules.
Initial findings point to overspeeding and unsecured cargo as possible causes. The crash has renewed concerns about heavy-vehicle regulation and passenger safety on Telangana’s highways, already notorious for fatal collisions.
The state government has ordered a safety audit of accident-prone stretches and deployed additional trauma care units.
Also Read: 6.3 Scale Quake Kills 20, Injures 300 in Afghanistan
