At least 52 people are reported to have died in the bus accident in Telangana on Tuesday when a state-owned Road Transport Corporation bus skidded into a deep gorge in Jagtial district.
Rescue operations were in full swing but the officials confirmed the death of 43 passengers. The bus, according to a report by PTI, was returning from Kondagattu to Jagital but it skidded off the ghat road near Shanivarapet village and fell into the valley resulting in the accident.
“The incident happened between 11:45 am and noon,” Jagtial District Collector A Sharat, who is supervising the relief and rescue work, was quoted by news agency PTI.
Revenue Divisional Officer G Narendra was quoted by Indian Express as saying, “While coming down the ghat road, the driver appeared to have lost control, either due to brake failure or some fault. The bus, instead of negotiating a bend, went straight and fell some 30 feet into a gorge. At least 23 people died on the spot,” Narendra said. Most of the 25 people, who were shifted to local hospitals with severe head wounds, succumbed to their injuries.
Most of the victims were women, police said, adding, the injured had been rushed to hospitals in Jagtial and the neighbouring Karimnagar district. “As of now, 34 people have been killed. The toll may go up,” PTI quoted IGP (North Zone) Y Nagi Reddy.
The government has declared a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the next of kin of those killed in the accident.