6 Killed, 14 Injured as Bus Hits Truck on NH-65 in Suryapet District

Six people, including five women, were killed and 14 others injured after a private bus collided at high speed with a stationary truck loaded with iron poles at Dorakunta in Kodad on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway (NH-65) early on Wednesday.

The accident took place around 5 a.m. in Suryapet district. The bus, operated by Fresh Bus, was carrying 42 passengers from Hyderabad to Eluru in Andhra Pradesh when it rammed into the rear of the truck.

According to Suryapet District Superintendent of Police K Narasimha, the truck was travelling towards Vijayawada from Suryapet when it hit the median while trying to overtake another bus. The truck jumped onto the divider and halted with half its body on the median and the other half occupying the road. The speeding bus driver failed to notice the stationary truck and crashed into it.

The right side of the bus took the maximum impact of the crash. Massive iron poles meant for industrial scaffolding pierced through the bus, crushing a section of the vehicle and trapping passengers inside. The bus driver escaped unhurt and remains at large.

The six deceased passengers, all hailing from Andhra Pradesh, were identified as Yasarapu Chinni (32) and Chennakesavulu Nagendra Babu (31) from NTR district, B Meri Jyoshna (29) and Pidikidi Laxmi (30) from Vijayawada, Suravarapu Shakeena (24) from West Godavari, and Konduru Bhavana Varsha (28) from NTR district. Jyoshna and Nagendra Babu were software professionals.

Emergency responders and police had to remove the iron poles lodged inside the vehicle before rescuing trapped passengers. Some passengers managed to crawl out through the windows, while passersby alerted the authorities.

Doctors at the local area hospital confirmed that 20 passengers were brought in by 108 ambulances, including three with head injuries and seven with bone fractures. Several injured passengers were later transferred to specialised hospitals in Suryapet and Vijayawada for advanced treatment.

Police are investigating whether the bus driver dozed off at the wheel, following statements from passengers that a driver change had taken place shortly before the crash at a dhaba in Undrugonda.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed grief over the incident and directed the chief secretary to ensure proper medical care for the injured. Fresh Bus stated that it is coordinating with local authorities, emergency services, and hospitals to assist affected passengers and their families.