BENGALURU: Doctors at National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) who are treating the Penukonda accident victims say that 17 injured people were brought to the institute on Wednesday. All are out of danger, but in a state of shock.
According to Arunakula Nagabhushan, Project Director, District Water Management Authority, road work was going on in the ghat section between Mavathur and Penukonda. The bus driver hit a protection wall and the bus fell in a 90-foot deep ditch. Police said 16 passengers died in the accident.
speaking to Express, Dr P Satish Chandra, Director of NIMHANS said CT scan was done on a few patients and they were discharged as the injuries were very superficial. Seven of the injured were referred to other hospitals. “Seven of them have been kept in the Acute Emergency Ward for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and a psychiatrist will counsel them,” said Dr Chandra. The bus driver’s condition is serious, he added.
Initially, the victims were taken Hindupur and Penukonda government hospitals but later they were sent to Bengaluru for better treatment, said L V Ibrahim, tahsildar of Chilmatur. V Gangadhara of the Four-Wheeler Welfare Assciation said 10 cabs were used to ferry the victims as most of the 108 ambulances were busy shuttling other victims.
State Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy visited the hospital and spoke to accident victims and their families.