Deadly collision between truck and bus leaves 24 dead

 

By Sumesh Rajan | November 4, 2025

Chevella, Telangana, INDIA: A deadly collision between a gravel-laden truck and a Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) bus early Monday morning on the Hyderabad–Bijapur National Highway (NH-163) near Chevella left at least 24 people dead and over two dozen injured, many of them trapped under tonnes of gravel for nearly an hour before rescuers could reach them.

The crash, which occurred around 6.15 am at Mirjaguda, about 60 km from Hyderabad, came less than 10 days after the Kurnool bus fire that killed 19 people—plunging Telangana once again into mourning.

Eyewitnesses and survivors described scenes of horror and helplessness.

“It felt like the whole world had collapsed on us. We couldn’t move or breathe properly,” recalled R. Venkataiah (55), a head constable from Vikarabad, now recovering at a local hospital. “We screamed for help, but no one could get to us for so long.”

A mountain of gravel

The impact of the head-on collision was so severe that the truck, allegedly overloaded with 40–50 tonnes of gravel, overturned, spilling its contents over the bus and burying passengers seated on the right side.

“They were almost instantly buried up to their necks,” said survivor Abdul Razak (38). “We could only hear muffled cries.”

Another passenger, C. Sri Sai (27), a government school teacher from Chevella, recalled: “The bus shook violently and went dark. Gravel started pouring in from the windows. It was terrifying.”

Several passengers remained pinned under the debris until locals, police and rescue teams arrived with earthmovers. Three women constables from the Cyberabad Commissionerate—who happened to be passing by—were among the first to respond. They broke bus windows, administered CPR to the injured, and helped pull survivors from the wreckage.

“We found people buried neck-deep in gravel. It took enormous effort to free them,” one of the constables said.

Rescue under the rising sun

By the time police reinforcements and emergency services arrived, the morning sun had risen high over the twisted metal and spilled stone. Chevella inspector M. Bhoopal Sridhar and Vikarabad DSP Srinivas Reddy led the three-hour rescue operation, sustaining minor injuries themselves. “We had to bring in an earthmover to clear the gravel before we could open the vehicle,” Sridhar said.

The injured were first taken to the Chevella Government Hospital and later shifted to Vikarabad, PMR Hospital in Tandur, and subsequently to Gandhi and Osmania Hospitals in Hyderabad for specialized care. Doctors said many suffered crushed limbs, deep cuts and spinal injuries.

Overloaded and overrun

According to ADG (Law & Order) Mahesh Bhagwat, the gravel truck, travelling toward Manneguda, had crossed into the opposite lane on a divider-less stretch of the highway and rammed into the oncoming Tandur–Hyderabad bus. The impact pushed the bus nearly 50 feet backward.

Preliminary investigations revealed both vehicles were overloaded. The truck carried more than double its permitted capacity of gravel, while the bus—hired by TSRTC from a private vendor—had 72 passengers on board despite a seating capacity of 55.

Police have booked the truck driver Akash under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for death due to negligence and causing hurt by an act endangering life. Truck owner Lachiram, who was injured, claimed Akash took over driving while he rested at Shankarpally. Investigators suspect the driver may have dozed off or lost control while overtaking. His viscera samples have been preserved to determine if he was under the influence.

Families shattered

Among the victims were five members from two families of Tandur town, including a 10-month-old baby. “Nine of the 19 victims identified so far are from Tandur. It’s a big tragedy for my constituency,” said Tandur MLA B. Manohar Reddy.

Many passengers were students and employees returning to Hyderabad after the weekend.

Businessman Mohammed Yunus, who escaped with bruises, said, “When the lorry hit, I fell sideways and the gravel poured in. I thought I would die. Because I was standing, I managed to wriggle out through a broken window. Others weren’t so lucky.”

Government response and ex gratia

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the tragedy and instructed officials to ensure the injured receive the best treatment. The state government announced ₹7 lakh ex gratia for the families of the deceased and ₹2 lakh for the injured.

The Prime Minister’s Office also announced ₹2 lakh compensation for each deceased victim and ₹50,000 for the injured from the PM National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said an inquiry would be conducted by a joint committee of the Transport, RTC, Police, and Revenue departments to establish accountability.

He added that the RTC would provide an additional ₹2 lakh compensation to the families of those killed.

‘Deeply saddening’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Meanwhile, Telangana IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu, who oversees Ranga Reddy district, ordered senior officials to personally monitor relief operations and ensure victims’ families are kept informed.

A grim reminder

The Chevella crash serves as another grim reminder of India’s persistent highway safety crisis—where overloaded vehicles, sleepless drivers, and narrow, divider-less roads continue to claim lives despite repeated warnings and high-profile accidents.

For survivors like Venkataiah, the memory still haunts: “When they finally pulled me out, I saw people I’d just spoken to—gone. I’ll never forget those voices crying from under the gravel.”