A devastating road accident in Telangana’s Rangareddy district resulted in the deaths of twenty people this morning after a passenger bus crashed head-on with a truck carrying construction gravel. The collision occurred on the Hyderabad-Bijapur highway, approximately 60 kilometers outside of Hyderabad.

The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) bus was en route from Tandur to the state capital, reportedly carrying around 70 passengers at the time of the incident. The impact with the heavy-duty, gravel-laden truck caused the material to spill violently into the bus compartment, tragically burying several passengers and causing most of the fatalities.

The twenty deceased victims include a 10-month-old infant, ten women, and the drivers of both vehicles. Initial reports indicate that the area immediately behind the bus driver’s seat was the most severely affected, with most passengers in the first six rows dying instantly.

Emergency teams, comprising police and rescue personnel, rushed to the scene. Due to the extreme damage and the sheer volume of gravel trapping victims, rescuers faced a difficult task, requiring them to use cutting equipment to access the wreckage and retrieve the bodies. Several injured passengers were transported to a government hospital, with officials noting that some remain in critical condition.

State officials have responded to the tragedy. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed his grief over the loss of life and immediately instructed authorities to expedite rescue and relief efforts. Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has also sought an urgent report regarding the cause of the fatal crash and directed the Rangareddy District Collector to ensure all injured individuals receive optimal medical care.