Telangana government orders probe into tragic Chevella bus accident

The Telangana government has ordered a probe into the tragic road accident near Chevella, where a bus collided with a tipper truck, killing 20. Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar assured relief to victims and stressed the importance of road safety

Hyderabad: The State government has ordered a probe into the tragic road accident.

Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, who rushed to Chevella, told the media that the immediate priority of the government was to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured and extend all help to the families of the deceased. The Minister said there were 72 people aboard the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) bus, which was coming to Hyderabad from Tandur. A gravel-laden tipper truck rammed into the bus on the Hyderabad-Bijapur highway near Mirzaguda in Chevella mandal, about 60 km from Hyderabad.

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Hinting that negligence by the tipper driver led to the tragedy, the Minister said action would be taken after the investigation. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy held a video conference with top officials and directed them to provide immediate relief to the victims. The Minister said that the accident was unfortunate and that it was not the time for politics. Road safety is the topmost priority for the government. The Transport Department is trying to create public awareness about road safety at the school level. “Despite numerous checks and enforcement of rules, we also need public cooperation to prevent such accidents,” he said.

Though hundreds of people are killed in road accidents in the country, Telangana records fewer than 20 fatalities daily. The government is working to remove danger spots on highways and take serious action on vehicle fitness and other issues, he added.