Three killed, seven hurt as APSRTC bus rams coal-laden tipper in Vizag
A tragic road accident in the early hours of Sunday claimed three lives, including that of an APSRTC bus driver, and left seven others critically injured after the bus rammed into a stationary coal-laden tipper at Gajuwaka in Visakhapatnam.
The ill-fated bus, en route from Rajamahendravaram to Parvathipuram with nearly 30 passengers on board, met with the accident near Srinagar Colony in Gajuwaka at around 4 a.m. Police said the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle before it ploughed headlong into the parked lorry.
The bus driver and two women passengers lost their lives in the impact, while seven others sustained grave injuries. Alert residents and passing motorists notified the police, who rushed to the scene and transported the injured to nearby hospitals. Several of the critically wounded were later transferred to King George Hospital (KGH) for advanced medical attention.
The deceased have been identified as Rayapilli Rambabu (50), the bus driver, Rali Radha Madhavi (35), and Lenka Eswaramma (55), both women passengers who were travelling on the ill-fated bus.
Police registered a case and initiated a probe into the circumstances that led to the mishap. Efforts are underway to document the details of the injured.
Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy expressed deep grief over the accident, extending his condolences to the bereaved families. He directed authorities to ensure the injured received the best possible treatment and personally inquired about the condition of victims at KGH. He pledged the government’s full support to the affected families.
District In-charge Minister Dola Sri Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy expressed condolences over the loss of lives and instructed officials to spare no effort in providing adequate care to those undergoing treatment.
Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, too, offered his condolences to the grieving families, spoke directly with KGH doctors regarding the injured, and assured the victims’ kin of the state government’s unwavering support.
All three ministers directed officials to conduct a thorough inquiry into the accident and submit a comprehensive report on its root causes promptly.