Forty-three persons had a narrow escape when an APSRTC ‘Palle Velugu; bus jumped off the culvert and plunged into a small stream on Thursday.
The incident occurred at 10.30 a.m. at Donekal in Vidapanakal mandal in Anantapur district. Two persons sustained minor injuries while the rest escaped unhurt.
Passengers blamed the incident on reckless driving, and said they managed to survive as the bus fortunately did not turn turtle as its wheels got stuck in the soft mud of the stream.
APSRTC Anantapur Regional Manager Jitendranath Reddy told The Hindu that there was a steep gradient at the approach of the low-level culvert on the stream, and the driver was unable to negotiate the gradient as he was at a high speed. All the passengers were sent on another bus to their destination.
