Telangana RTC bus crash: Overloaded tipper, packed bus, no divider, rash driving - a deadly mix that killed 19

The initial investigation into the road accident near Chevella in Telangana’s Rangareddy has revealed that an overloaded truck and an overcrowded Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) bus proved a deadly combination, resulting in 19 fatalities.

The deceased include 13 women, five men, and a two-month-old baby, according to official information from Telangana Health Minister’s office.

Initial findings indicate that the tipper lorry was carrying nearly 40 to 50 tonnes of gravel, more than double its permitted limit of 20 tonnes, while the bus was packed with over 70 passengers, far exceeding its 51-seat capacity, as per a report by The Times of India.

Officials believe that rash driving and the absence of a road divider on that stretch of National Highway (NH)-163 also contributed to the deadly collision.

According to the investigators, the truck’s excess load may have made it extremely difficult for the driver to control or steer the vehicle, especially while travelling at high speed. The weight imbalance likely caused the truck to lose stability and topple during the crash, crushing part of the bus under the massive pile of gravel.

Many victims are believed to have died instantly, while others were trapped and suffocated under the debris before help could arrive.

On the other hand, the TGSRTC bus was operating beyond its capacity. While the vehicle was designed to seat 51 passengers, around 70 were on board, including nearly 20 people standing.

Though RTC guidelines allow for up to 20% additional passengers during rush hours in some categories of services, experts admit that this relaxation often leads to unsafe travel conditions, especially on long-distance and inter-district routes.

The crash occurred around 6.15 am near Indira Reddy Nagar in Mirjaguda under Chevella police limits. The TGSRTC bus (TS34TA 6354), travelling from Tandur to Chevella, was hit head-on by a tipper lorry (TG06T 3879) coming from the opposite direction.

According to officials, the truck, carrying gravel and stone chips from Lakdaram in Sangareddy district to Manneguda, lost control while overtaking another vehicle, veering into the bus’s lane.

“The impact caused severe damage to the bus, and the load of gravel poured into the passenger section, trapping people and causing multiple injuries and deaths due to suffocation and trauma,” TOI quoted TGSRTC MD Y Nagi Reddy as saying

He confirmed that the bus was in good condition, with all valid fitness and insurance certificates, and clarified that there was no fault on the part of the RTC driver.