At least 24 people lost their lives and several others sustained injuries when a lorry carrying gravel collided head-on with a Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) bus in Ranga Reddy district on Monday morning. Rescue operations were launched immediately, with emergency teams using three JCB excavators to remove debris and free those trapped.
The bus, operating from the Tandur depot and carrying around 70 passengers, was en route to Hyderabad when the accident occurred near Mirzaguda village in Chevella mandal. The lorry, travelling in the opposite direction, collided with the bus, causing its gravel load to spill onto the vehicle and trap several passengers underneath.
Eyewitnesses described harrowing scenes at the crash site, with passengers screaming for help as locals rushed to assist. Among the deceased were the drivers of both vehicles, several women, and a ten-month-old infant along with its mother.
Fifteen passengers, including the bus conductor Radha, were rescued in the initial phase of operations. The injured were taken to Chevella Government Hospital, while those in critical condition were transferred to Hyderabad for specialised care. Authorities have warned that the death toll could rise as some victims remain in serious condition.
Preliminary reports suggest that overspeeding and loss of control by the lorry driver may have contributed to the collision. The bus, carrying mostly students and office-goers returning to Hyderabad after the weekend, was heavily impacted, particularly in the first six rows behind the driver, where most fatalities occurred.
The accident caused major traffic disruption on the Hyderabad–Bijapur highway, with long queues reported across the Chevella–Vikarabad route. Police and rescue teams reached the site within minutes of the incident and worked alongside locals to manage the situation. During the operations, Chevella Circle Inspector Bhupal Sridhar sustained an injury to his left leg from a JCB and was admitted to Chevella hospital.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy expressed profound sorrow over the tragedy and directed officials to intensify rescue and relief measures. He instructed that all injured passengers be transferred to Hyderabad for better medical treatment and asked ministers and senior officials to personally supervise the response on the ground.
The Chief Minister emphasised the mobilisation of all government departments to support the rescue operations, including the deployment of ambulances, emergency medical teams, and paramedical staff, to save as many lives as possible.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar held discussions with the TSRTC Managing Director, Y Nagireddy, regarding the circumstances leading to the accident. The Rangareddy district collector has also been tasked with ensuring proper care for all injured passengers.
Opposition leaders, including BRS working president KT Rama Rao, expressed condolences to the families of the victims. He urged the government to provide immediate relief and ensure a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident, calling it a “horrific tragedy” that demands accountability.
