Man driving Telangana bus that fell into gorge was awarded best driver last month
Hyderabad, Sept 12: The driver of the bus that plunged into a ravine in Telangana killing 57 people was conferred the best driver award by the government only last month, officials said Wednesday even as the death toll from the accident rose to 60.
The overcrowded state roadways bus had swerved off the road and hurtled down a hillside into a gorge near Shanivarapet village, 200 km from Hyderabad, Tuesday, in what is one of the worst highway tragedies in recent times.
In a preliminary report submitted to the government, the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) indicated that the accident happened when driver Srinivas, who was also killed, either lost control while trying to avoid a collision with an oncoming vehicle or negotiating a sharp downhill curve, a corporation official said.
The official, who did not want to be named, dismissed media reports that the driver had taken the dodgy shortcut to save fuel, insisting “it is the regular route, and the driver was also regular”. Srinivas was not only presented the best driver award last month, but was also earlier rewarded for best fuel efficiency, which indicated his impeccable driving skills, the official told PTI.
The official also ruled out the possibility of brake failure being the cause of accident.
“Based on prima-facie information, a preliminary report has been submitted to the government. A detailed report will follow after a thorough inquiry,” he said.
A police officer said the number of those killed rose on Wednesday when a woman succumbed to injuries during treatment, while 27 people are still undergoing treatment in hospitals in Jagtial and Karimnagar districts and the condition of at least three is serious.
All the bodies were identified and handed over to the families after post-mortem and inquest, Jagtial deputy superintendent of police Venkat Ramana told PTI.
The deceased included 37 women and five children.
Some of the victims were pilgrims returning to Jagtial from the temple town of Kondagattu after offering prayers at the famous Hanuman temple.
The deceased were from nearby villages and most were daily commuters, he said. Some of them died due to suffocation, while others succumbed to head injuries.
A case has been registered and investigation is on, Ramana said. He said experts will examine the vehicle to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.
Police and TSRTC officials said around 90 passengers were on the bus against seating capacity of 54 when it met with the accident. The bus depot manager was suspended Tuesday, the TSRTC official said.
Courtesy: www.hindustantimes.com
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Vice president releases latest edition of Constitution in Sindhi
New Delhi (PTI): Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Friday released the latest edition of the Constitution in Sindhi language, in both Devanagari and Persian scripts here.
Addressing a gathering, the vice president extended greetings to the Sindhi-speaking community on the occasion of Sindhi Bhasha Diwas.
He described Sindhi as one of the oldest and most melodious languages, noting that its literary tradition reflects a unique confluence of Vedantic philosophy and Sufi thought, promoting universal values of oneness, love, and brotherhood.
Highlighting the significance of the occasion, he said that the release of the Constitution in Sindhi, particularly in the Devanagari script for the first time since Independence, marks an important milestone in promoting linguistic inclusivity.
He emphasised that the Constitution is not merely a legal document but the living spirit of the nation, embodying its aspirations, safeguarding rights, and guiding democratic governance.
He observed that India stands unique in making its Constitution available in a wide range of languages and recalled similar initiatives undertaken in recent years, including translations in Bodo, Dogri, Santhali, Tamil, Gujarati, and Nepali. These efforts, he said, celebrate India’s linguistic diversity and reinforce democratic values.
