Twelve people were reported dead and more than twenty five injured, even as reports come in, in an accident involving an APSRTC bus falling downhill on the Hindupur - Madakasira ghat road.
An Andhra Pradesh State Road Transportation Corporation (APSRTC) bus carrying more than fifty people, mostly students coming from Madakasira town to Hindupur for higher studies, started from Madakasira to Penukonda at around 7:45.
When the bus was negotiating a curve, less than 10 kms from the Penukonda town, on the intervening ghat section of the road, it fell into a gorge of around 30 feet in depth.
Survivors of the accident told The Hindu that the bus driver fell into a dug up patch of the road, which is under repair, as he tried to avoid an incoming vehicle in the opposite direction, leading to a bus overturn and slip down the gorge.
As per the police, a total of twenty five people have been identified as injured and have been sent to the Penukonda and Hindupur government hospitals for treatment.
Meanwhile, as reports last came in, 12 people, mostly students have been confirmed dead by the revenue and police authorities, although the bodies are yet to be identified.
However, it is feared, the death roll might increase further as the rescue operations take time, given the location.
The police and revenue authorities can be seen working in full swing in a race against time, given the location, to help out the injured primarily and look for the severely injured but alive people.
Probe into cause of mishap
The APSRTC management has ordered an internal probe into the reasons that led to the accident.
When contacted, the secretary to the board and executive director M. Ravinder said prima facie it looked like the accident happened because of ongoing road works at the spot.
"We will examine the possibility of driver error in negotiating the stretch and his judgement that could have led to the tyre getting off the bus at the kerb cutting," he said.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Minister for IT, Palle Raghunath Reddy who was camping in Anantapur, has asked APSRTC officials and the district administration to render all possible assistance and best of medicare to the injured.
APSRTC's Managing Director (Incharge), K.V.V. Gopal Rao who was travelling to Vijayawada for a review by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu asked senior officials to monitor the situation and extend all assistance.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expresses grief over the death of passengers in RTC bus accident in Anantapur district
— Vijayawada Connect (@VjaConnect) >January 7, 2015
Ministers Siddha Raghava Rao and Palle Raghunadha Reddy rush to the scene of RTC bus accident in Anantapur district
— Vijayawada Connect (@VjaConnect) >January 7, 2015
