Bus swerves off road at Vizag's RK beach and mows down people, one dead

As it was a Sunday, there was also a huge rush of visitors at the beach.
Bus swerves off road at Vizag's RK beach and mows down people, one dead
Bus swerves off road at Vizag's RK beach and mows down people, one dead
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In a tragic incident, an old man died and four others were injured on Sunday evening, after a private school bus lost control and ploughed into a group of people at a beach in Visakhapatnam.

The incident occurred at around 8pm at the city's famous Ramakrishna Beach or RK Beach.

The New Indian Express reported that the driver may have lost control, after a brake failure, which resulted in the bus swerving off the road, and ramming a wall, before hitting a few people and some parked bikes. 

TNIE also quotes eyewitnesses, who heard a big thud, following which a few people and several bikes flew into the air due to the impact of the bus. 

Many also said that the bus was speeding, and there was no time to react.

As it was a Sunday, there was also a huge rush of visitors at the beach. The local media reported that the driver was also grievously injured.

The Hindu reported that the schoolchildren came for an award function and were about to return home, but they had not boarded the bus yet. 

Visakhapatnam Commissioner of Police T Yoganand visited the spot, and told the media, "The doctors are treating those who were injured. This is the third such accident at this spot in recent times.”

Andhra Pradesh Transport Minister K Atchannaidu also visited the spot, besides visiting those injured, at the hospital. 

Speaking to the media, he said, "Our officers have examined the bus, and everything seems up to date. We are going to check if the driver was drunk at the time of the accident. He is presently in coma. According to initial investigation, the brakes worked perfectly, and even the school that the bus belonged to has a good record."

This comes just days after the state government said that it would wage a “war against road accidents.”

The state said that  more than 3,000 people are killed in road accidents every year in Andhra, and roughly 30,000 people suffer injuries.

The Transport Minister said that 25 toll plazas in the state will be equipped with breath analysers. The minister also added that the state would amend the Transport Act if necessary to hold vehicle owners responsible in case of accidents related to drunken driving.

“If a driver commits a mistake, even the owner should be made responsible for the accident. Even for long journeys, we will insist that two drivers are appointed, to ensure road safety. It is their responsibility," the minister had said.

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