Three passengers were killed and two others suffered injuries when an APSRTC AC Metro Luxury bus rammed into passengers seated on Platform No 12 of the Pandit Nehru Bus Station here on Monday.
The deceased were identified as Kumari, of Chirala, Ayansh (18-months) and RTC booking clerk Veeraiah, working in Guntur. Sukanya and Suresh Babu, who suffered injuries, were admitted to hospital.
The Vijayawada-Guntur non-stop bus suddenly ploughed on to the platform, hit the railing and the passengers sitting on the chairs there, and came to a halt just before the stalls.
Passengers ran helter-skelter in the bus station to save themselves. All the 24 passengers, who were inside the bus, were safe. “I was waiting on Platform No. 10. The AC bus suddenly hit the platform, entered into the seating area and hit the passengers around 8.40 a.m,” said Chaitanya, an eyewitness.
APSRTC Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Ch. Dwaraka Tirumala Rao interacted with the RTC officials and the passengers. “An inquiry has been ordered into the mishap. The RTC will bear the medical expenses of the injured,” he said. “The driver of the bus is aged around 60 years. The vehicle is in fit condition and we are inquiring whether it was technical fault or the driver’s mistake which caused the mishap,” he said.
CM expresses grief
Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed shock over the accident and directed the officers to conduct a detailed inquiry into the cause of the mishap. He announced ₹10 lakh ex gratia to the bereaved families, and directed the officers to provide better medical aid to the injured persons.
