Hyderabad, Nov 3 (NationPress) Twenty individuals lost their lives and numerous others sustained injuries during a tragic collision between an RTC bus and a truck in Rangareddy district of Telangana on Monday.

The incident took place at approximately 6:30 a.m. along the Hyderabad-Bijapur highway, close to Mirzaguda in Chevella mandal, situated about 60 kilometers from Hyderabad.

The RTC bus, traveling from Tandur to Hyderabad, was struck by a concrete-laden tipper truck that was approaching from the opposite direction.

Eyewitness accounts reveal that passengers seated in the first six rows of the bus were crushed and buried under gravel when the tipper truck crashed through the vehicle, causing the entire load to collapse inside the bus, significantly increasing the impact of the collision.

Among the deceased were eighteen bus passengers, including 10 women. The fatalities also included the drivers of both the bus and the truck. Tragically, a 10-month-old infant and her mother were counted among the victims.

At the time of the accident, the bus carried approximately 70 passengers and was owned by the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC).

Many passengers were injured and transported to the government hospital in Chevella. Reports indicate that the condition of three of them is critical.

Heartbreaking scenes unfolded as several injured individuals trapped in the wreckage cried out for assistance.

Rescue teams faced significant challenges in extricating the injured. Three JCB machines were deployed to cut through the bus to recover bodies and assist the injured.

A survivor recounted that the bus departed from Tandur at 5 a.m. and was at full capacity by the time it arrived in Vikarabad, with numerous passengers standing.

The survivor described how a speeding tipper truck from the opposite lane collided with the bus, resulting in the deaths of the driver and several passengers seated in the six rows behind him.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed his sorrow over the accident, instructing officials to promptly reach the scene and initiate relief efforts.

He also requested regular updates on the situation and directed the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police to ensure that all injured parties receive immediate medical attention in Hyderabad.

The Chief Minister ordered nearby Ministers to hasten to the accident site without delay. Additionally, he instructed the District Collector to enhance rescue and relief operations, ensuring all necessary measures for effective assistance.

Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar mandated officials to implement relief measures and provide optimal medical care to the injured.

This marks the second significant road incident in the Telugu states within a span of ten days.

Previously, twenty individuals were burned to death when a private bus caught fire after colliding with a motorcycle near Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh on October 24. The bus, belonging to a private tour operator, was en route from Hyderabad to Bengaluru.