Dayakar, a private college lecturer and native of Manikyapur village of Bheemadevarapalli mandal, had to attend the Intermediate examinations spot valuation.
So, he boarded a fully packed TSRTC bus at Huzurabad, which collided with a lorry in Chenjerla village of Manakondur mandal on Tuesday morning. Fortunately, he escaped with minor injuries, while seven people were killed.
“Right from the time I boarded the bus, the driver was negligent. The bus was travelling at high speed. Earlier, at SRSP canal on the outskirts of Huzurabad, there was a close shave when the driver tried to avoid hitting a cow on the road,” he alleged. Mr. Dayakar is undergoing treatment in government hospital in Karimnagar town.
“There were no seats available and I was standing, so I could see the rash driving,” he said, charging the bus driver with being responsible for the accident.
He said the driver had noticed the lorry coming from the opposite direction, but did not swerve away.
TSRTC Chairman and Ramagundam legislator S. Satyanarayana said a departmental inquiry had been ordered into the mishap. Driver Yogender Reddy has been suspended, he said. However, he claimed there were fewer accidents among RTC buses when compared to other services. He also said yearly refresher training courses were provided to the drivers to prevent accidents.
Transport Minister P. Mahender Reddy, RTC Managing Director Ramana Rao and other top RTC officials also inspected the accident spot.
