Neurosurgeon burnt alive in Telangana highway crash; 3-year-old killed in Hyderabad hit-and-run
Synopsis
Two fatal road accidents rocked Telangana within hours of each other: a neurosurgeon was burnt alive when his car hit a highway divider and caught fire in Suryapet district, while a three-year-old boy was killed in a hit-and-run in Hyderabad's Santoshnagar — with the driver still at large.
Key Takeaways
Dr Kasakurti Jagadish , a neurosurgeon at Mamata Hospital, Khammam , was burnt alive when his car caught fire after hitting a road divider on the Hyderabad-Khammam highway near Pillalamarri on 20 September .
The vehicle was completely gutted before fire services arrived; the deceased was identified through the car's registration number.
A forensic team collected the charred remains; police have registered a case and launched an investigation.
Former minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar expressed shock over the neurosurgeon's death.
In a separate incident, three-year-old Izhanuddin was fatally struck by a car near IS Sadan, Santoshnagar, Hyderabad on Saturday night ; the driver fled the scene.
Police are scanning CCTV footage to trace the hit-and-run vehicle; AIMIM MLA Jaffer Hussain Meraj visited the scene and offered condolences.
A neurosurgeon was killed — burnt alive inside his car — after the vehicle struck a road divider and caught fire on the Hyderabad-Khammam highway near Pillalamarri in Telangana's Suryapet district on Sunday, 20 September. The deceased has been identified as Dr Kasakurti Jagadish, who was serving at Mamata Hospital in Khammam.
How the Accident Unfolded
According to police, Dr Jagadish's car was heading towards Khammam when it hit the road divider and immediately caught fire. The entire vehicle was engulfed in flames, trapping him inside. Passersby alerted police and emergency services, but the vehicle was completely gutted before a fire engine could reach the spot. Dr Jagadish was charred to death inside the car.
Authorities identified him based on the vehicle's registration number. A forensic team subsequently collected the charred remains and preserved them for further examination. Senior police officials visited the scene and a formal case has been registered. The investigation is ongoing.
Political Condolences
Former minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar expressed shock over the death of Dr Jagadish, condoling with the doctor's family and the medical community. The incident has drawn attention to persistent road safety concerns along the busy Hyderabad-Khammam corridor.
Second Tragedy: Three-Year-Old Killed in Hit-and-Run in Hyderabad
In a separate, equally grim incident in Hyderabad, a three-year-old boy named Izhanuddin was run over by a car near IS Sadan in Santoshnagar on Saturday night. The child had accompanied his father, Mohiuddin, to a nearby hotel. While Mohiuddin was collecting a food parcel, the toddler slipped out and ran across the road. A car struck him, inflicting grievous injuries. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
The vehicle sped away after the collision. Police are scanning CCTV footage from the area to trace the car and its driver. A case has been registered at IS Sadan Police Station and an investigation is underway to identify and arrest the accused.
Political Response to Child's Death
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MLA Jaffer Hussain Meraj visited the spot, spoke to police officials, and conveyed condolences to the bereaved family. The MLA also appealed to the public to exercise caution while driving.
Road Safety in Focus
The two incidents — occurring within hours of each other in the same state — underscore the alarming frequency of fatal road accidents in Telangana. The Hyderabad-Khammam highway has recorded multiple fatalities over recent years, with advocates long calling for improved median barriers and speed enforcement. Authorities have yet to comment on preventive measures following these latest tragedies.
Point of View
The other a toddler — point to a systemic road safety failure that goes beyond bad luck. The Hyderabad-Khammam highway has been flagged repeatedly for dangerous median design and inadequate speed control, yet corrective infrastructure upgrades have lagged. The hit-and-run in Santoshnagar also raises questions about surveillance gaps: police reliance on CCTV to trace a fleeing vehicle suggests that real-time traffic monitoring remains woefully thin in large parts of Hyderabad. Political condolences from an MLA and a former minister, while expected, do little to address the enforcement vacuum that enables repeat tragedies.
NationPress
20 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Dr Kasakurti Jagadish and how did he die?
Dr Kasakurti Jagadish was a neurosurgeon serving at Mamata Hospital in Khammam, Telangana. He was killed on 20 September when his car struck a road divider on the Hyderabad-Khammam highway near Pillalamarri and caught fire, trapping and burning him alive before emergency services could reach the spot.
Where exactly did the Suryapet highway accident occur?
The accident occurred near Pillalamarri on the Hyderabad-Khammam highway in Telangana's Suryapet district. The car was heading towards Khammam when it hit the road divider and burst into flames.
What happened to the three-year-old boy in Hyderabad?
Three-year-old Izhanuddin was struck by a car near IS Sadan in Santoshnagar, Hyderabad, on Saturday night after he ran across the road while his father was collecting a food parcel from a nearby hotel. He was rushed to hospital but declared dead on arrival; the driver fled and police are using CCTV footage to trace the vehicle.
Have police made any arrests in these cases?
As of the latest reports, no arrests have been made in either case. In the Suryapet accident involving Dr Jagadish, police have registered a case and initiated an investigation. In the Hyderabad hit-and-run, police are scanning CCTV footage to identify and arrest the driver who fled the scene.
Which political figures responded to these incidents?
Former minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar expressed shock over the death of Dr Kasakurti Jagadish. In the Hyderabad case, AIMIM MLA Jaffer Hussain Meraj visited the site of the hit-and-run, spoke to police, and conveyed condolences to the child's family, also appealing for greater road caution.
