Chevella MLA faces public anger over road safety failure at accident site

Tension erupted in Chevella when MLA K Yadaiah attempted to visit the Mirzaguda accident site after an RTC bus-truck collision killed 20 people. Locals and victims’ relatives blamed government negligence for the lack of road safety measures

Vikarabad: Tension prevailed at the Mirzaguda accident site in Chevella when local MLA K Yadaiah arrived to inspect the scene of the tragic RTC bus–truck collision that claimed 20 lives on Monday.

Locals and victims’ relatives expressed anger and frustration over what they called the government’s failure to improve road safety and control heavy vehicle movement in the area.

---

Yadaiah, who switched loyalties from the BRS to the ruling Congress, faced the public’s anger when he attempted to visit the accident site. Locals stopped him from proceeding and raised slogans of “MLA down down”, expressing fury over the government’s inaction on the long-pending road widening of the Hyderabad–Bijapur highway. They also raised slogans against Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.

Sensing the tension, police intervened to defuse the situation, but the crowd continued shouting slogans and argued with the officials. As the atmosphere grew heated, Yadaiah withdrew from the location.

Locals alleged that several accidents had occurred on the stretch due to official negligence. Despite repeated appeals to public representatives and authorities, no preventive steps had been taken. They said while people elsewhere opposed road widening, Mirzaguda residents were willing to cooperate, but the Congress government remained indifferent.

In a video circulating on social media, a villager blamed the government’s delay for the loss of 20 lives in the recent mishap, saying the negligence had turned fatal for innocent commuters.

Meanwhile, talking to the media, Yadaiah attributed the accident to the narrowness of the road. The Chevella legislator said though the road widening was sanctioned five years ago, works could not be taken up as some people had approached the National Green Tribunal raising concerns.

“It is true that it is a narrow road. The road from Bijapur to Maneguda is always busy with vehicles. The road was sanctioned five years ago. However, some people moved the NGT, so road works could not be taken up. This is why accidents are frequently occurring.

We were able to convince those who approached the NGT to withdraw the cases. So, work also started two days ago,” the MLA said.