Suryapet: Five killed, 20 injured as bus rams into container truck

Six passengers were killed and several injured when a Hyderabad-Eluru private bus rammed a stationary lorry carrying metal poles near Dorakunta in Suryapet district. Rescue teams pulled trapped passengers from the mangled bus, while the injured were shifted to hospitals.

Hyderabad: Six passengers were killed and several others injured when a private travel bus from Hyderabad to Eluru rammed into a lorry carrying metal poles on the Hyderabad–Vijayawada highway in Suryapet district on Wednesday morning.

The accident occurred around 5 am near Dorakunta in Kodad mandal.

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Police said the victims included five women. Five of the victims were identified as Y Chinni, B Mary Jyothsna, Ch Nagendra Babu, S Shakina and P Lakshmi.

According to police, the lorry was travelling from Suryapet towards Vijayawada when its driver apparently hit the road divider while attempting to overtake another bus. The vehicle came to a halt with a portion of it on the median and the other part extending onto the road.

A few minutes later, the Hyderabad–Eluru bus, carrying 42 passengers, crashed into the rear of the stationary lorry at high speed. The impact was severe, particularly on the right side of the bus, where protruding metal rods from the lorry reportedly pierced into the passenger compartment.

Several passengers were trapped inside the mangled bus and cried for help. Some managed to escape through the windows.

The Suryapet Police, emergency personnel and passersby rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations. The injured were shifted to Kodad Government Hospital and other places in Vijayawada and Suryapet for treatment.

Police are examining whether the bus driver failed to notice the lorry due to poor visibility, fatigue or other factors. A case has been registered and an investigation is underway.

The crash caused heavy traffic congestion on the highway for some time as rescue and clearance operations continued.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed shock and grief over the deaths and conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims. He directed Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao to ensure that the injured receive the best possible medical treatment.

Meanwhile, ‘Fresh Bus’ management expressed sorrow over the incident and said its immediate priority was the safety, medical care and well being of the affected passengers.

The company said its team was working on the ground in coordination with local authorities, emergency services and hospitals to provide medical assistance and support to the injured and their families.

It also said it had strengthened support channels to ensure passengers and their families receive timely assistance and verified information about the incident