Hyderabad: On Monday morning, a beaming 22-year-old Saleha Begum boarded the ill-fated TGSRTC bus from Tandur, along with her 40-day-old baby girl, Zahera Fathima, to be with her husband in Hyderabad. But the journey was cruelly cut short by fate as she was one of the 19 victims who died in the tragic Rangareddy road accident in Chevella mandal.
The TGSRTC bus, carrying about 70 passengers, collided with a tipper vehicle laden with crushed concrete at Mirzaguda on Chevella Road. Seventeen bus passengers were crushed and buried under the gravel, leading to their instant deaths. Both drivers also perished.
Saleha’s body was recovered from the gravel, her infant still in her arms, as if trying hard to protect her. She was accompanied by her father, Shaik Khalil Hussain, who also died.
Her husband, Waheed Hussain, was eagerly waiting to meet his newborn daughter and beloved wife, only to have his soul crushed.
Similarly, tragedy struck a family of Tandur town who lost three daughters, and another where two daughters were left behind.
Nandini, Sai Priya, and Tanusha were three of the four daughters of Yellaiah Goud from Gandhinagar, Vikarabad. According to local reports, the three sisters were studying at Kothi Women’s College in Hyderabad. They were returning to the city after attending a wedding on October 15.
Their father, a driver, worked tirelessly to ensure that all four of his daughters received an education; one of them reportedly married just last month.
On the day of the incident, Goud dropped Nandini, Sai Priya and Tanusha, unbeknownst that that would be their final goodbye.
Nandini was a first-year student, Sai Priya, in her third year, and Tanusha was studying MBA.
While one family lost their daughters, another story from the same tragedy speaks of two daughters left behind. Bhavani and Shivalila are heartbroken after losing their parents, Bandappa and Lakshmi, residents of Hajiipur village in Vikarabad district. The children are inconsolable.
A teenage survivor, Ashok, who suffered minor injuries, recounted the horrifying scene of his father’s death.
Ashok and his 45-year-old father, Hanumantha, boarded the bus at Kodangal to travel to a hospital in Hyderabad for his ear problem.
“My father was sitting next to me. After the tipper hit the bus. Several people fell on my father and also huge quantities of gravel.”
Ashok was later saved after some people broke open the window.
Another survivor who was sleeping behind the conductor said a loud thud jolted him awake, leaving him half-buried in gravel. “Several people were buried under the gravel. The tipper lorry came from the opposite direction. I was seated on the left side of the bus. We managed to climb out, but those who were sitting behind the driver couldn’t make it — some of them died. I was seated three rows behind the conductor,” he told the media.
He said he opened a window and escaped, with six others following. Later, another person broke the window panes to free more passengers.
Quick thinking of TGSRTC driver saves lives: Conductor
Bus conductor Radha claimed that it was the quick thinking of 37-year-old TGSRTC driver Dastagiri that saved her and others’ lives in the accident. “He moved the bus to the left, and people on one side got saved. If he had gone straight, I would not have made it,” she said.
However, Dastagiri did not survive. Both drivers died upon impact.
Post mortem completed
Heart-wrenching scenes were witnessed at the Chevella government hospital where the bodies and the injured passengers were brought in after the mishap. Several persons were seen weeping inconsolably at the loss of their dear ones.
By the end of day, all 19 bodies were handed over to the families after post mortem, said Telangana Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare Sangeeta Satyanarayana.
Reassuring that citizens’ lives are paramount to the government, state transport minister Ponnam Prabhakar said the government will identify all black spots. “Fitness of buses will not be compromised upon. The cooperation of citizens is paramount for road safety,” he said.
Owaisi demands probe, expresses sorrow
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, on Monday, November 3, expressed grief over the fatal road accident.
Taking to X, the Hyderabad MP has demanded a thorough investigation and strict action.
“News of the #Chevella bus accident is horrifying. My prayers are with those injured and the families of those who lost their lives. I hope the accident victims are compensated, a thorough investigation is carried out and those responsible are punished,” read his X post.
State govt announces compensation for bus accident victims
Earlier, the government announced Rs 5 lakh each for the kin of the deceased, Rs 2 lakh each for the injured, and Rs 2 lakh from TGSRTC. In addition, district authorities have been directed to ensure immediate medical assistance and support for the victims’ families.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed grief over the loss of lives and announced an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh each to the families of the deceased.
“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,” a PMO statement said.
“An ex-gratia of Rs two lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000,” the statement said.
