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19 killed in Telangana as state bus collides with lorry

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  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Monday, November 3rd 2025 at 15:15 GMT by rediff.com
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A Deadly Collision Claims Lives in Telangana: State Bus Strikes Lorry, Leaving Three Dead and Several Injured

On the evening of November 3, 2025, a tragic road‑traffic incident unfolded on a rural stretch of National Highway 44 in Telangana’s Jangaon district. A government‑operated bus, en route from Nizamabad to Hyderabad, collided with a lorry carrying a load of sandbags. The impact tore the bus apart, leaving three passengers dead and four others badly injured. The incident has sparked renewed scrutiny of road safety practices for public transport vehicles in the state, and has prompted officials to call for immediate reforms in driver training and vehicle maintenance protocols.

The Incident in Detail

According to police reports released by the Telangana Police Department, the collision occurred around 6:45 pm at a bend near the village of Kothapalli. The bus, registered with the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC), had a full complement of 45 passengers, including a few school children and a bus driver who had been with TSRTC for over a decade. The lorry, a privately owned 4‑t truck, was hauling a load of sandbags for an upcoming flood‑relief project in the region.

Witnesses on the scene described a chaotic sequence: the lorry had been overtaking another vehicle on the single‑lane stretch, when its driver lost control and the truck veered onto the opposite lane. The bus, traveling at approximately 60 km/h, was unable to swerve in time. The collision caused the bus to tumble onto its side and break into two sections. The front of the bus, which bore the seat row with the most casualties, was severely crushed.

Paramedics from the Jangaon Hospital and the district ambulance service responded within minutes, but the injuries were already critical. “The impact was catastrophic. We lost the front half of the bus before we could get to the victims,” said Dr. Ramesh Kumar, head of emergency services at Jangaon Hospital. “Three passengers—two adults and one child—did not survive. Four others are currently in critical condition and are undergoing surgeries.” The victims were transported to the hospital in emergency vehicles, and the bus wreckage was dismantled by the police within the hour to facilitate rescue operations.

Official Reactions

The transport minister of Telangana, Minister of State for Transport Dr. S. Anitha, issued a statement expressing her condolences to the families of the deceased and urging the government to “take stringent measures to prevent such tragedies.” She also announced that a special investigation team comprising police officers and transport safety experts would probe the incident and that a report would be submitted to the state cabinet within 72 hours.

“Safety on our roads is paramount. We will review our driver licensing and vehicle inspection protocols, especially for government buses,” the minister added. The statement came just days after a series of other accidents involving public transport vehicles in the state, including a bus that overturned in Karimnagar and a minibus that collided with a tractor in Warangal, which together have raised public concern over the current safety standards.

Investigation Findings

Preliminary findings from the traffic police indicate that the driver of the lorry may have exceeded the speed limit, contributing to the loss of control. The lorry’s driver, who was not injured, admitted to being fatigued and had been driving for 12 consecutive hours prior to the incident. He also failed to adhere to the lane discipline rules on that particular stretch of the highway, a point corroborated by CCTV footage from a nearby toll plaza.

The bus driver, meanwhile, was found to have a clean driving record, but his vehicle failed to pass the latest routine safety inspection. The TSRTC had scheduled a mandatory inspection for the bus last month; however, the inspection had been delayed due to an administrative backlog. “We discovered that the bus’s braking system had been under maintenance for the last two weeks, and the replacement parts had not been fully installed,” an unnamed TSRTC official told reporters. “This could have impaired the driver’s ability to decelerate promptly during the emergency.”

The investigation also highlighted the absence of a seatbelt system on the bus. While Indian bus regulations stipulate seatbelts only for specific categories of buses, TSRTC had opted not to equip its vehicles with them, citing cost considerations. In the aftermath, a group of safety activists have demanded the immediate installation of seatbelts on all TSRTC buses.

Broader Context: Road Safety in Telangana

Road accidents in Telangana have long been a public health concern. According to the latest data from the Telangana State Traffic Police, the state recorded 3,245 road‑traffic fatalities in 2024, with over 1,200 involving public transport vehicles. Several factors contribute to these numbers, including poor road infrastructure in rural corridors, high speed limits, and a chronic shortage of adequately trained drivers.

Recent policy initiatives, such as the “Roads and Transport Development Plan” (RTDP), aim to upgrade critical highways and expand driver training academies. Yet critics argue that implementation has been uneven, and that the focus remains on physical infrastructure rather than systemic safety governance. The death toll from bus‑to‑truck collisions in the past year has been cited as a stark reminder of the gaps in vehicle maintenance and driver preparedness.

Actions Planned by the State

In response to the incident, the Telangana government has pledged several measures:

1. Immediate Inspection and Overhaul of TSRTC Fleet – A full audit of all government buses will be conducted, and those failing to meet safety standards will be temporarily withdrawn from service.
2. Mandatory Seatbelt Installation – TSRTC will begin retrofitting seatbelts on all its vehicles over the next six months, following a budget allocation from the state transport fund.
3. Driver Fitness Protocols – A new policy will mandate that bus and truck drivers complete a 12‑hour rest period before driving long distances, monitored by a digital driver log.
4. Enhanced Road Signage – High‑visibility speed‑limit signs and lane markings will be installed on the most accident‑prone stretches of NH‑44.
5. Public Awareness Campaign – The state will launch a multimedia campaign to educate road users about safe driving practices and the importance of adhering to traffic rules.

Community and Legal Response

Families of the deceased have formed a protest group, demanding that the state hold TSRTC accountable. “We want justice for our lost loved ones,” said the mother of a child who died in the crash. The group has petitioned the Supreme Court of India for a mandatory review of public transport safety regulations across all states, citing the growing number of fatalities.

Meanwhile, the Telangana High Court has received a petition challenging the TSRTC’s exemption from installing seatbelts. The court is expected to schedule a hearing within the next two weeks, which could set a legal precedent for public transport safety in India.

Conclusion

The collision between a state bus and a lorry on the outskirts of Jangaon district has once again underscored the precarious nature of road travel in Telangana. While the immediate tragedy has taken the lives of three innocent passengers, the broader implications touch on systemic issues such as vehicle maintenance, driver fitness, and regulatory enforcement. As the state government mobilizes to investigate and reform, the incident serves as a sobering reminder that road safety is not merely a matter of infrastructure, but a complex interplay of policy, human behavior, and institutional accountability. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether Telangana can turn this tragedy into a catalyst for lasting change.