At Least 9 Dead and 20 Others Injured After Bus Crashes into Ravine
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/narendra-modi-121225-1-f5bdb5d376ac4e8ba52a9f0838d80b88.jpg)
At least nine fatalities have been recorded, with 20 others sustaining injuries following a tragic bus accident that occurred in India. The incident took place on Friday, Dec. 12, when a bus, carrying approximately 37 passengers, veered off the road and plunged into a gorge at Tulasiipakalu in the Alluri Sitarama Raju district of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
Reports from Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and The New Indian Express detailed that seven of the injured individuals are currently in critical condition, as confirmed by India Today. According to a police officer cited by Hindustan Times, the accident is believed to have transpired after 1 a.m., but the authorities were notified with a delay due to the lack of communication facilities in the remote forest area. It was speculated that the driver lost control of the bus, leading to the tragic crash.
The ill-fated Vigneshwara Travels bus was en route from Bhadrachalam in Telangana to the temple town of Annavaram in Andhra Pradesh, as reported by Hindustan Times. Despite reaching out for comments, both Vigneshwara Travels and Andhra Pradesh Police have yet to respond to PEOPLE’s inquiries.
The injured passengers were promptly transferred to Chinturu and Rampachodavaram hospitals, with those in critical condition being further moved to larger medical facilities for specialised treatment, the police officer revealed. Notably, the specific location where the bus careened off the road is known for its steep terrain, as outlined by India Today.
Superintendent of Police Amit Bardar disclosed that poor visibility due to foggy conditions may have impaired the driver’s ability to navigate a curve, as stated by The Times of India. The aftermath of the accident was captured in footage shared by BBC News Teluga, revealing the overturned bus in the ravine.
Addressing the tragic incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, stating, “Pained by the loss of lives due to a bus mishap in the Alluri Sitharama Raju district of Andhra Pradesh. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.” He added that financial assistance would be provided to the families of the deceased and the injured through the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
Authorities have launched an investigation to ascertain the root cause of the calamity, with a focus on improving road safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The community mourns the lives lost and extends support to those affected by the devastating bus crash in Andhra Pradesh.
Overall, the unfortunate event underscores the importance of stringent safety protocols in public transportation to safeguard passengers and prevent such heartbreaking incidents from occurring again.