It was the worst road accident that the integrated Karimnagar district had ever seen. In fact, with 64 dead and dozens injured, it accounted for the highest number of casualties in any RTC bus mishap in the State.
On September 11 this year, an RTC bus, carrying over 100 passengers, plunged into a gorge on the Kondagattu temple ghat road in Kodimial mandal. It was travelling from Shanivarampeta village to Jagtial.
With so many deaths, authorities were unable to provide adequate number of freezers to store the bodies, forcing the bereaved families to preserve the dead with ice blocks covered with husk or sand. On the casualty list were 19 names from Shanivarampeta, 11 from Dappu Thippayipalli, 10 each from Himmathraopeta and Ramsagar villages, and also from Tirumalapur, Sandrapalli and Konapur villages of Kodimial mandal.
Those who survived the tragedy were bedridden. More than 10 persons sustained serious fracture injuries such as broken ribs, maimed legs and other deformities.
The State government had announced ₹5 lakh for each of the bereaved families and ₹2.5 lakh for each injured passenger. But the process was disrupted with election code of conduct coming into force. Following intervention by NGO Lok Satta, the Centre announced and allowed a low-key disbursement of ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh to bereaved families and ₹50,000 to the injured.
