45 dead in Telangana bus accident

1. 45 dead in Telangana bus accident Kondagattu Accident : At least 45 people, many of whom were pilgrims, were killed after a state transport bus tumbled down a gorge near Kondaagattu area of Telangana's Jagitial district. The Road Transport Corporation (RTC) bus, with 60 passengers onboard, was on its way to the Kondagattu Anjaneya Swamy temple when the accident took place. The crash also left several passengers injured who have been rushed to nearby government hospitals for treatement. Following the accident, Telangana Chief Minister K.Chandrashekhar Rao announced Rs. 5 lakh as compensation to the family members of each deceased. "The bus is a local one from Jagitial depot ... totally overloaded. The bus was coming from Shanivarampet to Jagitial. After reaching Kondagattu, which is a ghat road, the bus lost control and fell down, killing 23 persons on the spot. The bus had more than 50 passengers. The incident took place at 11.30 am. We were all at Collectorate and rushed immediately and rescued many by 12.15 pm," said Jagitial Revenue Divisional Officer G Narendhar. The injured have been rushed to government hospitals in Jagtial and Karimnagar. The incident took place at the Kondagattu Ghat Road, as a bus full of pilgrims was returning to Jagitial town from the famous temple in the district. Officials say that the bus could have skid before it fell. Superintendent of Police Sindhu Sharma and Jagtial District Collector Dr A Sharat immediately rushed to the spot to oversee rescue operations.

2. In a statement, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao expressed shock and his condolences over the ghastly road accident and directed officials to provide medical assistance to the injured. The incident happened when the bus was returning from Kondagattu to Jagital skidded off the ghat road near Shanivarapet village and fell into the valley resulting in the accident, they said. Initial reports said the bus driver apparently lost control of the steering at the third sharp curve, resulting in the bus plunging into the gorge. Over 62 passengers were travelling in the bus. "The incident happened between 11.45 am and noon. At least 15 persons have died in the incident ... 20 others were injured and they have been shifted to different hospitals," Jagtial District Collector A Sharat, who is supervising the relief and rescue work, told PTI over phone. Sindhu Sharma, SP Jagtial, said, "45 people have died so far. Injured have been admitted to nearby government hospitals. Rescue operation is underway." A state-run RTC bus accident had occurred near Kondaagattu, earlier today. Chief Minister K.Chandrashekhar Rao expressed shock over the road accident at Kondagattu ghat road. In a message, the CM expressed condolences on the loss of lives and injuries to others. He has further directed the officials concerned to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured. He has announced ₹5 lakhs ex-gratia to the family members of the deceased. Minister for Finance and Civil Supplies Etala Rajender expressed shock and grief over the accident and instructed the officials to take all measures to provide proper medicare. Nizamabad MP Kavitha also expressed grief over the accident.