An advocate from Hyderabad, PN Arun Kumar, has approached the State Human Rights Commission asking it intervene and probe the ghastly bus accident that has claimed 61 lives so far. He also asked that the government increase the ex gratia given to the next of kin to Rs 25 lakh from Rs 5 lakh.
He further asked the government to charge those responsible for the accident under Section 304 A (causing death by negligence”. The depot manager, Hanumantha Rao, who wasn’t at the bus stand when the bus was being overloaded with people, has been suspended.
On Tuesday, Telangana witnessed one of the worst bus accidents after the state-run RTC bus fell off the Kondagattu ghat road. The bus was overcrowded, with over 90 passengers on board. Preliminary reports have suggested that brake failure caused the accident. As of Thursday, the death toll has reached 61 from 57.
Speaking to TNM, Arun said, “This tragedy is heartbreaking. The government should provide ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh to the deceased, take stock of the buses which aren’t fit to ply on roads, and charge the depot manager and supervisor for their appalling negligence.”
The SHRC has now instructed Arun to gather the details of the victims and submit them to him.
The deceased, many of them who were women and children, belonged to Shanivarampet village. Several of them are still availing treatment in various hospitals in Jagtial, Hyderabad and Karimnagar.
In the accident the bus driver, Srinivas, too succumbed to his injuries. Srinivas recently received a commendation certificate from the TSRTC for his meritorious services.
Locals said that the bus had been taking a detour to Kondagattu for the past week, instead of directly going to Jagitial, so that they could accommodate the devotees of the Anjaneya Swamy temple on Kondagattu hillock.